What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentDisodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingMenthol
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Methylparaben
PreservativeSodium Propylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Paraffinum Liquidum, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Menthol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Methylparaben, Sodium Propylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Dna, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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