What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Myristyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 47005, CI 77891, CI 15510, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentBetaine
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Imidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCalcium Pantothenate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCalluna Vulgaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantArachidic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Betaine, Triethylhexanoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Silica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
As an emollient, palmitic acid helps soften and smooth the skin by preventing water loss. In cleansers, it helps remove oil and dirt while creating foam.
Its emulsifying properties help stabilize products by keeping water and oil-based ingredients from separating.
This may not be suitable for fungal acne-prone skin, as fatty acids like this can sometimes trigger breakouts in sensitive individuals.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum