What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose Dilaurate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientBenzoic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Squalane, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycolic Acid, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sucrose Dilaurate, Jojoba Esters, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Benzoic Acid, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
PEG-100 Stearate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSulfur, Water, Niacinamide, Zea Mays Starch, Glycolic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylamide, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 StearateGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidNiacinamide 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.
Sodium 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 HydroxideTocopheryl 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
