What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantPiper Methysticum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBakuchiol
AntimicrobialZinc PCA
HumectantDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Arginine, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Piper Methysticum Root Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Carnosine, Retinol, Polysorbate 60, Oligopeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, BHT, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Bakuchiol, Zinc PCA, Diisopropyl Adipate, Soluble Collagen, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Collagen, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Collagen Amino Acids, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropylene 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 GlycolRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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