What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentNiacinamide
SmoothingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Methylpropanediol
SolventMethicone
EmollientPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantOsmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Methylpropanediol, Methicone, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Allantoin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Propylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Glutathione, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantLaurocapram
Skin ConditioningGalla Rhois Gallnut Extract
AntimicrobialCamphor
MaskingMenthol
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTriethanolamine
BufferingPolyisobutene
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientSaposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAlbizia Julibrissin Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGastrodia Elata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Laurocapram, Galla Rhois Gallnut Extract, Camphor, Menthol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Triethanolamine, Polyisobutene, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Flower Extract, Gastrodia Elata Root 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.
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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