What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Adenosine, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Linalool, Citronellol, Myristic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Tocopherol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Ceramide NP
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 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 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
