What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingXylitol
HumectantPogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningCrocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingCarum Copticum Fruit Extract
MaskingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingPseudowintera Colorata Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveLauryl Glucoside
CleansingStearyl Citrate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMenthol
MaskingPinene
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Xylitol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Carum Copticum Fruit Extract, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Capryloyl Glycine, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Pseudowintera Colorata Leaf Extract, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Panthenol, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lauryl Glucoside, Stearyl Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Menthol, Pinene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantFerric Sulfate
HumectantManganese Sulfate
Skin ConditioningZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialPotassium Sulfate
Copper Sulfate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
CI 77231
Cosmetic ColorantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantInosine
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantGlycosaminoglycans
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Faex Extract, Xanthan Gum, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Chloride, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Ferric Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Potassium Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, CI 77231, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin, Inosine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Thiamine Hcl, Niacinamide, Biotin, Panthenol, Inositol, Glycosaminoglycans, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite
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 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 PanthenolWater. 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