What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Velvet Extract
HumectantCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methylpropanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, C12-16 Alcohols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Dipropylene Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Velvet Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Parfum, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Royal Jelly Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Resveratrol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Ferulic Acid, Laureth-7, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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
