What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctocrylene
UV AbsorberSilica
AbrasiveArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventTriethylene Glycol
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Betaine, Niacinamide, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Carbomer, Octocrylene, Silica, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Triethylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
AbrasiveUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arginine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutathione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin), Ubiquinone, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Bakuchiol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic 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 NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 Water