What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Hectorite
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Glucose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Hectorite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Tranexamate Mesylate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Water
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Tranexamate Mesylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Kojic Acid, Allantoin, Salix Alba Bark Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 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 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 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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