What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycogen
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Sodium Dna, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Glycogen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, CI 14700, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The tannin content of witch hazel constrict the appearance of pores by drying out proteins. Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
However, witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing due to the tannin and fragrance compounds.
North American Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana ExtractNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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