What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycereth-26
Humectant
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Dextran
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Glycerin, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Ectoin, Trehalose, Betaine, Caffeine, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycereth-26, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Water, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Adenosine, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Acetyl Cysteine, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Ethyl Oleate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Xylitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Dextran, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Cutaneous Lysate
MoisturisingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Bisabolol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caffeine, Lecithin, Cutaneous Lysate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Tocotrienols, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Squalane, Ascorbic Acid, Phytosterols, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben
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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
