What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTropolone
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrehalose
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBroussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientPlacental Protein
HumectantNatto Gum
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDisodium EDTA
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropolone, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Trehalose, Sclerotium Gum, Broussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pantethine, Placental Protein, Natto Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, CI 17200, CI 42090, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Peel Oil
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientPEG-800
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingRetinol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Oil
MaskingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-45
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-8
HumectantSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, PEG-800, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Retinol, Citrus Junos Fruit Oil, Bioflavonoids, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-9
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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