What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCerebrosides
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTrisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTripropylene Glycol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingEtidronic Acid
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingLemongrass Oil
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cerebrosides, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Etidronic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, Trehalose, Carbomer, Arginine, Propanediol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Dna, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Oleate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glutathione, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin (a group of phospholipids). Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between hydrogen and another element.
This ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum