What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycereth-26
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 235
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
AntioxidantBHA
AntioxidantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Poloxamer 235, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbate, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, BHT, BHA
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterCanola Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberJojoba Esters
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Tapioca Starch
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantRetinyl Retinoate
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Canola Oil, Butylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tapioca Starch, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Retinyl Retinoate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamidePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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