What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSoluble Collagen
HumectantCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingHexapeptide-2
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientArachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingButyloctyl Palmitate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Collagen Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Soluble Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Hexapeptide-2, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Adenosine, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinal, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Cetyl Palmitate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Butyloctyl Palmitate, Vinyldimethicone, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 2,3-Butanediol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Biotin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCasein
Skin ConditioningDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingChrysin
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclohexasiloxane, Casein, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dimethiconol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Adenosine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Propolis Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Steareth-20, Chrysin, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
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.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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 NiacinamideSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum