What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAmorphophallus Konjac Root Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningKefiran
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Water, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Niacinamide, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Kefiran, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglutamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract
Squalane
EmollientEthyl Oleate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTerminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil
AntioxidantVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningWater, Heptyl Undecylenate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract, Squalane, Ethyl Oleate, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This extract comes from the Cabbage Palm, AKA the Açaà berry! It has skin soothing and antioxidant properties.
Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, including ferulic acid (The famous vitamin C stabilizer). Antioxidants protect your skin against damaging free-radical molecules.
You can also find carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals, vitamin A, and Vitamin C in these berries.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateWater. 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