What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Xylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Glutathione, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Carbomer, Xylitol, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glucose, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide 2%
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeonurus Sibiricus Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glutathione
Glycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide 2%, Butylene Glycol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Leonurus Sibiricus Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf/Stem Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Panthenol, Sodium Phytate, Glutathione, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Carbomer, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine
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
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 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (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 NiacinamideTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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 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