What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-34
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicMelatonin
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Betaine, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-34, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Caffeine, Inositol, Sarcosine, Biotin, Melatonin, Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Olivate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool
Lactobacillus/Leaf Ferment Filtrate 60%
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Phytate
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Lactobacillus/Leaf Ferment Filtrate 60%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ecklonia Cava Extract, C12-13 Alketh-9, Glycerin, Propanediol, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Betaine Salicylate, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Silk, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycine, Betaine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Biotin, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Beta-Glucan, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Beta-Carotene, Linoleic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Parfum
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineBiotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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
