What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Polianthes Tuberosa Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Alpha-Arbutin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Maltodextrin, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Polianthes Tuberosa Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Glycerin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
