What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSucrose
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGellan Gum
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasivePotassium Chloride
Calcium Lactate
AstringentCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Carrageenan, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Sucrose, Cellulose Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gellan Gum, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Phytate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mica, Tin Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Lactate, CI 77491, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPolyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium PCA
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTartaric Acid
BufferingChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAgar
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Chloride
Aluminum Glycinate
AstringentSodium Phytate
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Caffeine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tartaric Acid, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Agar, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyacrylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Aluminum Glycinate, Sodium Phytate, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaffeine 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 CaffeineCarrageenan comes from red seaweed or algae. It is made up of polysaccharides and a highly flexible compound. Red algae cell walls are rich in carrageenan.
In cosmetics, it helps to thicken the texture. Studies show carrageenan extracted from red algae possess antioxidant properties. Components found in carrageenan include: lipids, fatty acids, Vitamin E, proteins, and several amino acids.
Learn more about different types of algae.
Carrageenan is also commonly used in medicine and food. It is a vegan alternative to animal-based gelatin.
Learn more about CarrageenanCeratonia Siliqua Gum is extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. You might know this ingredient as Carob Gum or Locust Bean Gum. It is used to stabilize other ingredients and improve the texture of products.
Carob gum is made up of long-chain polysaccharides. This makes it a natural thickener.
Yes! This ingredient comes from the seeds of a tree. The name 'Locust Bean Gum' can be misleading.
Learn more about Ceratonia Siliqua GumGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWe don't have a description for Potassium Chloride yet.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Sodium 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.
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