What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Disodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingDextrin
AbsorbentFragaria Vesca Leaf Extract
AstringentGlucose
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Tromethamine, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Fructan, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Dextrin, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract, Glucose, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 5%
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHexylglycerin
HumectantHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantViscum Album (Mistletoe)
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 5%, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Carbomer, Arginine, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hexylglycerin, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Viscum Album (Mistletoe), 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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