What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCalamine
AbsorbentBromelain
Skin ConditioningIris Versicolor Extract
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Sucrose
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Calamine, Bromelain, Iris Versicolor Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sucrose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Dextrin, Palmitic Acid, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, C12-16 Alcohols, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Glucose, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, C14-22 Alcohols, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 ExtractCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
This ingredient is more commonly known as the coffee bean from the Coffea Arabica tree. Besides being a delicious drink, coffee beans have a ton of skin benefits.
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract (CASE) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and UV-protective properties. (It should not replace your sunscreen!)
CASE contains several ingredients that protect and soothe skin. These include caffeine, polysaccharides, sucrose, lipids, minerals, and proteins.
The star ingredient in coffee is caffeine.
Caffeine helps with anti-aging, antioxidant, and photo-protection.
How? It has been shown to block collagenase (~41%), elastase (~35%), and tyrosinase (~13%).
Collagenase and elastase are enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, respectively. Tyrosinase is the enzyme that controls melanin production.
Our skin creates melanin when exposed to UV as a defense mechanism.
It should be noted most studies looked at caffeine's ability to inhibit damage from UV-B rays.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is often dissolved using water, glycerin, and propanediol. The caffeine content of this ingredient is about 100 ppm.
Coffea Arabica is native to Ethiopia.
Learn more about Coffea Arabica Seed ExtractDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
