What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningThuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingTrideceth-10
CleansingGlucose
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCalcium Pantothenate
Xylitol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMenadione
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Disodium EDTA
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Allantoin, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Adenosine, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Trideceth-10, Glucose, Collagen Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Ceramide NP, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Squalane, Cyanocobalamin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Biotin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Xylitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Menadione, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Silica, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Stearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Niacinamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Beeswax, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about 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 NiacinamidePolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is a plant-derived emulsifier whose only job is to keep the oily and watery parts of a formula blended so it doesn't separate into layers.
It's compatible with a wide-range of active ingredients and especially good at making emulsions survive heat/freeze cycles.
Typical use concentrations range from 2-3% and it works across a pH of 4.5-8.5.
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics and has a low irritation profile.
Because it's build on stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that falls within the range (C11-24) that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateSodium 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 PhosphateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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