What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSiloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicBis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingLactobacillus/Hydrolyzed Collagen Ferment Filtrate Extract
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativePolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBee Venom
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingPhytic Acid
Silver Oxide
AntimicrobialWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Lactobacillus/Hydrolyzed Collagen Ferment Filtrate Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Polyglutamic Acid, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bee Venom, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Arginine, Phytic Acid, Silver Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSalicylic Acid
MaskingTranexamic Acid
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeStyrene
PerfumingAcrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Cysteine
AntioxidantVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingMenthol
MaskingPropanediol
SolventAmylopectin
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
Emulsifying2,3-Butanediol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Sulfite
PreservativeWater, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Styrene, Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Cysteine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Cholesterol, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Menthol, Propanediol, Amylopectin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, 2,3-Butanediol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Sulfite
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
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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamide 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 Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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