What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualene
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Communis Fruit Extract
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Water, Glycerin, Squalene, Lauryl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Zinc PCA, Panthenol, Resveratrol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingVitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAcacia Decurrens Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCoriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantAcrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingGlucosamine Hcl
Eugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Vitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acacia Decurrens Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Superoxide Dismutase, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Glucosamine Hcl, Eugenol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 PanthenolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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