What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningYogurt
Skin ProtectingZinc PCA
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSilver
Cosmetic ColorantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Glycerin
Humectant
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningGlutamylamidoethyl Imidazole
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Gluconolactone, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Yogurt, Zinc PCA, Bisabolol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Silver, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Glycerin, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Steareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s 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 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
