What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Estradiolpropanoate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Fructose
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Methyl Estradiolpropanoate, Caffeine, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Niacinamide, Darutoside, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Tocopherol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Fructose, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningHuman Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Water, Human Stem Cell Conditioned Media, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Biotin, Caffeine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Disodium 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 CaffeineThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Tocopherol 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
