What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Betaine Salicylate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Gluconolactone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTapioca Starch
Dimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Citric Acid
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBakuchiol
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Citric Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bakuchiol, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water