What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantGlucose
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Madecassoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-8
HumectantMannitol
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCellulose
AbsorbentAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPEG-150
HumectantParfum
MaskingAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingKluyveromyces Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
AntioxidantErgothioneine
AntioxidantPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-8, Mannitol, PEG-32, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PEG-150, Parfum, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Linalool, Citronellol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Kluyveromyces Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium DNA, Disodium Phosphate, CI 60730, BHT, Ergothioneine, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 GlycerinMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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