What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPvp
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Trehalose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Verbena Officinalis Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf Extract
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingHibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Alcohol, Sorbitol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Water, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Betaine, Diglycerin, Pvp, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Verbena Officinalis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf Extract, Glucose, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Raffinose, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpWater. 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
