What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextran
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Glucoside
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Dextran, Ethylhexylglycerin, Heptyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Tripeptide-1, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningInositol
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Water, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Propanediol, Zinc PCA, Betaine, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Inositol, Biotin, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinBetaine 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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 Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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
