What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveWater, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Betaine, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Charcoal Powder
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingLactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment
Skin ProtectingYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Parfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientCrocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingCoriandrum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPerilla Frutescens Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPinus Pinaster Bark Powder
AbrasiveCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Gluconolactone, Castanea Sativa Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Glycerin, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Lactobacillus/Water Hyacinth Ferment, Yeast Ferment Extract, Sodium Phytate, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Coriandrum Sativum Extract, Protease, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Pinus Pinaster Bark Powder, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol
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 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 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 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 NiacinamideWater. 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