What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrideceth-50
CleansingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Water, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coco-Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Trideceth-50, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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