What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualene
EmollientEthyl Linoleate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAdenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Cholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingChlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract
HumectantHexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
HumectantSodium Deoxycholate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Squalene, Ethyl Linoleate, Polysorbate 80, Adenosine Triphosphate, Adenosine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Aminomethyl Propanol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Carbomer, Cyanocobalamin, Polysorbate 20, Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract, Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Sodium Deoxycholate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingTocopherol
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Betaine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Tocopherol, Linalool
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 PropanediolWater. 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