What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventIsoniacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Methylpropanediol, Isoniacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Tapioca Starch, Malachite Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Lactate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isoniacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Isoniacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Malachite Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCyclodextrins are ring-shaped sugar molecules made from starch. It is used to stabilize, protect, and slowly release active ingredients.
This ingredient can help prevent oxidation, reduce irritation from strong actives, and make certain ingredients absorb better once applied.
Once applied to your skin, enzymes gradually break down the cyclodextrin "ring"; this releases the active ingredient in a controlled way.
Learn more about CyclodextrinGlycerin (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 used in skincare as a delivery system.
It works by "encapsulating" active ingredients with its unique ring shape that is water-loving on the outside and oil-loving on the inside. This improves the stability and absorption of the product into the skin.
According to a manufacturer, it also offer some moisturizing effects.
Learn more about Hydroxypropyl CyclodextrinWe don't have a description for Isoniacinamide yet.
Malachite extract is created by grinding down the malachite stone.
More than half of the mineral is made up of copper, which plays a role in skin formation and regeneration processes.
Methylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
