What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycerin
HumectantOlive Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoconut Alkanes
EmollientMalassezin
Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBisabolol
MaskingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Silica
AbrasiveCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Olive Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Coconut Alkanes, Malassezin, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Carnosine, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Silica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthyl Linoleate
EmollientHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Squalane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantEvodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethyl Linoleate, Hexylresorcinol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Cetyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyisobutene, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Tetrapeptide-30, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, 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.
Glycerin 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 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 Water