What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantC12-14 Pareth-12
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingGlutathione
Dipeptide-15
Skin ConditioningSolanum Undatum Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoral Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantOpuntia Humifusa Flower/Stem Extract
AstringentDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Glucoside, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Erythritol, Xylitol, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glucose, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Glutathione, Dipeptide-15, Solanum Undatum Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coral Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Opuntia Humifusa Flower/Stem Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Butylene Glycol
HumectantMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDioscorea Opposita Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dioscorea Opposita Root Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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