What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolysilicone-11
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Squalane
EmollientHydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysilicone-11, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Linoleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Silica, Hexylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingThiamine Hcl
MaskingPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingEDTA
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Niacinamide, Thiamine Hcl, Pyridoxine, Panthenol, Riboflavin, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caffeine, Cannabis Sativa Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract, Parfum, Triethanolamine, EDTA
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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