What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Betaine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
SolventBehenic Acid
CleansingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Silica
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Behenic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Beheneth-20, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lysolecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Xanthan Gum, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideButylene 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 and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
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 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 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxidePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum