What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingHexanediol
SolventChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantHydrolyzed Dna
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Serine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlgin
MaskingPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Distarch Phosphate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Hexanediol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Dna, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Panthenol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Serine, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate Se
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSucrose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Dna
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, C12-16 Alcohols, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Dna, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Cellulose Gum, Glycol Stearate Se, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Adenosine, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sucrose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Pentylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tripeptide-1, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
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 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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