What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Malachite Extract
AntioxidantSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGellan Gum
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Agar
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine
BufferingSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPorphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fusiforme Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Malachite Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Agar, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Arginine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glycine, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Dna, Glutamic Acid, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Sargassum Fusiforme Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVinyldimethicone
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Oryza Sativa Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
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
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 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