What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingTranexamic Acid
AstringentAzelaic Acid
BufferingSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantBetaine
HumectantBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSoyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
Lactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Xylitol, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Sodium Hydroxide, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycolipids, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Gluconate, Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid
Myristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantNopalea Cochenillifera Extract
Skin ConditioningKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium PCA
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-7
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantMyristic Acid, Glycerin, Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauric Acid, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Xylitol, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Nopalea Cochenillifera Extract, Kojic Dipalmitate, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-7, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Glucoside, Alpha-Arbutin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is created from dehydrating xylitol in acidic conditions. Xylitol is a famous sugar and humectant.
Much like its predecessor, anhydroxylitol is a humectant. Humectants attract and hold water to moisturize the skin.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol (24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
This ingredient is often derived from plants such as wood and sugarcane.
Learn more about AnhydroxylitolCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms.
In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.
Glucose is hydrating due to its humectant property. As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin.
Our skin contains many sugars that act as prebiotics and help strengthen our natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.
Learn more about GlucoseNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol