What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlutathione
Sodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Ethoxydiglycol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Polyglutamate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 26100
Cosmetic ColorantSolvent Yellow 18
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyglutamate Crosspolymer, Bakuchiol, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Levulinate, P-Anisic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 26100, Solvent Yellow 18
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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