What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Quaternium-90 Sepiolite
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingQuaternium-90 Montmorillonite
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Alumina
AbrasivePropylene Carbonate
SolventCellulose Acetate
Niacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingBerberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Quaternium-90 Sepiolite, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Quaternium-90 Montmorillonite, Disodium EDTA, Alumina, Propylene Carbonate, Cellulose Acetate, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyglycerin-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Stearate, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, CI 77891, CI 77288, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 PropanediolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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