What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Arbutin, PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, PEG-8, Linalool, Geraniol, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 NiacinamideSodium 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
