What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Algin
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Oil
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Algin, Maris Sal, Salicylic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveAlgae Extract
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Algin
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caffeine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Algae Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Maris Sal, Sclerotium Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Laurate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineChlorella Vulgaris Extract comes from a green microalga. It is hydrating and contains antioxidants.
Studies also show Chlorella Vulgaris may help in rebuilding collagen and elastin. This ingredient is made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and chlorophyll.
Fun fact: This ingredient is commonly used as food additive in Japan.
Learn more about Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 ingredient is made from brown seaweed and is often used to improve the texture of products.
According to a manufacturer, this is a lightweight ingredient and a smaller form of algin. This allows it to be easily mixed with water and improve the spreadability of products.
It also has conditioning properties that mostly sits on the surface of skin as an emollient. Some lab research has explored it in anti-aging formulas, but the results were modest.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed AlginWe don't have a description for Maris Sal yet.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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