What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
AntioxidantPPG-12-Buteth-16
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingEssential Oils
Water, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, PPG-12-Buteth-16, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Essential Oils
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDecyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Zea Mays Starch
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzophenone-3, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Behenyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alpha-Arbutin, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Zea Mays Starch, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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