What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXylose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Xylose, Sucrose, Panthenol, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 AdenosineBifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.
One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.
A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.
In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment LysateButylene 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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 ingredient is created by fermenting soybean extract with the bacteria, lactobacillus.
Some studies have shown it to have antioxidant properties. One study found this ingredient to have stronger properties than non-fermented soybean extract.
Another study found in increase of isoflavones, amino acids, and peptides in fermented soy milk.
Learn more about Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment 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 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 Panthenol