What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Foam BoostingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSalicylic Acid
Masking4-Terpineol
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingSea Salt
AbrasiveTrehalose
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentBrassica Napus Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Salicylic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Propolis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Sea Salt, Trehalose, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Brassica Napus Extract, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSpinacia Oleracea
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoconut Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingQuillaja Saponaria Wood Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Isethionate
CleansingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Niacinamide, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Spinacia Oleracea, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coconut Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Quillaja Saponaria Wood Extract, Sodium Isethionate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ExtractThis ingredient comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile help fight free-radical molecules. These unstable molecules may damage your skin cells. By stabilizing them, antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help with stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMedicago Sativa Extract is derived from Alfalfa. It contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Alfalfa is also known as lucerne in the UK, South Africa, and the oceania countries. Ancient Greece and Rome used this plant to feed livestock.
Niacinamide 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 PanthenolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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