What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventTriethyl Citrate
MaskingBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSpinacia Oleracea
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBrassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propanediol, Triethyl Citrate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Spinacia Oleracea, Adenosine, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Carnosine, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Boron Nitride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, CI 77891, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glucomannan, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Trihydroxystearin, Xanthan Gum, CI 77288, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOleyl Erucate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCrocus Sativus Callus Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oleyl Erucate, Niacinamide, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Beta-Glucan, Crocus Sativus Callus Extract, Tocopherol, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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 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 NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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