What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCetearyl Stearate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCollagen
MoisturisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Stearate, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Cyclodextrin, Collagen, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Beta-Glucan, Escin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Trehalose, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningFraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
C12-15 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningSilanetriol
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSiloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPantolactone
HumectantNigella Sativa Seed Extract
PerfumingSasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeActinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Tetrasodium EDTA, C12-15 Pareth-12, Caffeine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Silanetriol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Pantolactone, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Sorbic Acid, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
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 GlycolCaffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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 Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water