What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin Conditioning4-Terpineol
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Golden Extract
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract
Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol, Water, 4-Terpineol, Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Golden Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Capryloyl Glycine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScrophularia Nodosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Equisetum Giganteum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Zinc PCA, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Scrophularia Nodosa Extract, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Citronellol
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCamellia 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 ExtractCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica 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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract comes from the Japanese Knotweed plant native to Japan, Korea, and China.
This plant contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It contains high amounts of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
The root of the plant has been used in traditional folk medicine throughout Asia.
Learn more about Polygonum Cuspidatum Root ExtractRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
