What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide Glycolate 2%
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingArbutin
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentAngelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlutathione
Limonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingNiacinamide Glycolate 2%, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Carbomer, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Arbutin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Limonene, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Peel Oil
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientPEG-800
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingRetinol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Fruit Oil
MaskingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-45
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-8
HumectantSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, PEG-800, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Retinol, Citrus Junos Fruit Oil, Bioflavonoids, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-9
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
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol