What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantPolymethyl Methacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantSuccinic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSea Water
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingThreonine
PCA
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Succinic Acid, Citric Acid, Glutamic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sea Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Threonine, PCA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Citrate, Parfum
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Root Extract
PerfumingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Root Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Betaine, Sodium Citrate
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 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 GlycerinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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