What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAcetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientSafflower Seed Oil Piperonyl Esters
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPanthenyl Triacetate
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialTerminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-2 Laurate
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Terminalia Bellerica Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialSucrose
HumectantAcetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract
BleachingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Lecithin
EmollientGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Safflower Seed Oil Piperonyl Esters, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Panthenyl Triacetate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Hexylresorcinol, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Terminalia Bellerica Fruit Extract, Sucrose, Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract, Plankton Extract, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Lecithin, Glucose, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAlcohol
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingRaspberry Ketone
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingEthyl Linalool
MaskingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingEucalyptol
Perfuming2-T-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate
MaskingMethylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal
PerfumingHexenyl Acetate
Masking2,4-Dimethyl-3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking3-Hexenol
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Alcohol, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, C12-13 Pareth-9, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Gluconolactone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Raspberry Ketone, Sodium Chloride, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Ethyl Linalool, Ethylene Brassylate, Linalyl Acetate, Eucalyptol, 2-T-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate, Methylenedioxyphenyl Methylpropanal, Hexenyl Acetate, 2,4-Dimethyl-3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, 3-Hexenol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 NiacinamideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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