What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Vinyldimethicone
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Vinyldimethicone, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Mandelic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysilicone-11
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
HumectantC13-15 Alkane
SolventLactobionic Acid
BufferingSilica
AbrasivePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLaureth-12
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Cera
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Polysilicone-11, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Lactobionic Acid, Silica, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Triheptanoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Laureth-12, Propanediol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Cera
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about 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 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 Water