What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningManilkara Multinervis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Manilkara Multinervis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Maltodextrin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantKaolin
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaffeine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentMenthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudozyma Epicola/Olive Fruit Oil Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSchinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract
AstringentPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPtychopetalum Olacoides Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantBentonite
AbsorbentPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingPolyisobutene
Citric Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientPolyurethane-10
Vanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Silica
AbrasiveTin Oxide
AbrasiveCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Alumina, CI 77891, Caffeine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pseudozyma Epicola/Olive Fruit Oil Ferment Filtrate, Schinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Bentonite, PEG-40 Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Triheptanoin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Ceteareth-20, Polyisobutene, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Polyurethane-10, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool
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 CaffeineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Vanillyl Butyl Ether yet.
Water. 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