What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Citric Acid, Hydrated Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Arbutin, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Dextran, Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamidePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
