What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Parfum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
PEG-45 Palm Kernel Glycerides
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Leaf Extract, PEG-45 Palm Kernel Glycerides, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Allantoin, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractNiacinamide 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.
Tocopheryl 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
