What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAcetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Nicotinate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPanicum Miliaceum Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingSimethicone
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol Denat., Water, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, Arginine, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Creatine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Glucosamine Hcl, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Malt Extract, Yeast Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Simethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Farnesol, Eugenol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBrassica Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-34
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCetyl Esters
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBrassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLauryl Pyrrolidone
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Brassica Alcohol, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Copper Tripeptide-34, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caffeine, Biotin, Cetyl Esters, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ubiquinone, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Zinc Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
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 CaffeineCamellia 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 ExtractCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGinseng root is a well-loved ingredient in Asian skincare for good reason. It hydrates the skin, soothes irritation, and helps even out skin tone.
In traditional East Asian medicine, ginseng has been used for centuries both as food and as a healing remedy, and modern research continues to confirm its skin benefits.
One of the standout features of ginseng is its ability to improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the skin, bringing a fresh supply of nutrients to support overall skin health. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps to protect your skin against damage from UV exposure, pollution, and daily stress.
Additionally, studies suggest that ginseng may help reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in melanin production.
There are different types of ginseng used in skincare, and while they all share core benefits, their potency can vary.
Most products use fresh or white ginseng because itâs more affordable. However, red ginseng, produced by steaming the root, contains higher levels of ginsenosides, which are compounds with proven anti-aging effects. These ginsenosides help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.
Note: All forms of ginseng are listed simply as âPanax ginsengâ in ingredient lists. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about which type of ginseng is used in their ingredients.
For general antioxidant benefits, any ginseng extract will do, but for wrinkle care or firmer skin, red or fermented ginseng is often more effective.
In short, ginseng is a powerhouse ingredient that supports hydration, radiance, and resilience.
Learn more about Panax Ginseng Root ExtractParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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