What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Salicylic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientTrilaurin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Trilaurin, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 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.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 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