What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Jojoba Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingMannitol
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNiacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLaureth-2
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfate
Disodium EDTA
Ammonium Lactate
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Mannitol, Cellulose, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacin, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-2, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Parfum, CI 77289, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSorbitol
HumectantCocamide
EmulsifyingPapain
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUrea
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMagnesium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobionic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Steareth-2, Sorbitol, Cocamide, Papain, Calcium Pantothenate, Xanthan Gum, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Lactate, Serine, Alanine, Proline, Magnesium Chloride, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Pvp, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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.
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