What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract
Magnesium PCA
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Maltodextrin, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Sodium PCA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract, Magnesium PCA, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Zinc PCA, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Manganese PCA, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingVolcanic Sand
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingLactic Acid
BufferingSea Water
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-21
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Pumice, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Dimethicone, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Charcoal Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Volcanic Sand, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Sea Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-20, Steareth-21, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caramel, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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 HyaluronateTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Tocopherol 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 Water