What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSophora Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCassia Italica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingNiacinamide
SmoothingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sophora Japonica Fruit Extract, Cassia Italica Leaf Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Betaine, Allantoin, Arginine, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPearl Extract
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Betaine, Panthenol, Pearl Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AdenosineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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, 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTANiacinamide 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 PropanediolWater. 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