What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasiveSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingOryza Sativa Powder
Parfum
MaskingKaolin
AbrasiveSodium Isethionate
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Parfum, Kaolin, Sodium Isethionate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDextrin
AbsorbentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dextrin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient comes from the evergreen flowering plant, gardenia. It has skin conditioning properties.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
This gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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