What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantLinolenic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
CleansingGlycine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Panthenol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Yeast Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Linolenic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laureth-7, Linoleic Acid, Glycine, Carbomer, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyproline, Acrylates Copolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Proline, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPolybutene
Sucrose
HumectantCetyl Esters
EmollientIsostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Glycerin
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysilicone-11
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
PEG-100 Stearate
Squalane
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sulfate
Stearic Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polybutene, Sucrose, Cetyl Esters, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysilicone-11, Lactis Proteinum, Caffeine, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, PEG-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Mica, CI 77491, CI 19140, CI 77891
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 GlycolCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disodium 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 GlycerinLinoleic Acid is also known as Vitamin F. It is a fatty acid with emollient and skin conditioning properties. Our top layer of skin, or epidermis, contains high amounts of linoleic acid naturally.
Your body uses linoleic acid to build ceramides and prostaglandins. Ceramides keep your skin's barrier hydrated and strong while prosaglandins help control inflammation and healing. Needless to say, linoleic acid is crucial for having a strong skin barrier.
One study found applying linoleic acid rich sunflower oil to be more effective at repairing the skin barrier than oleic rich olive oil.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, meaning our bodies cannot create it on its own. We need to get linoleic acid through foods such as nuts and vegetable oils.
Acne-prone skin tends to have linoleic acid and high levels of oleic acid.
Linoleic acid can also help treat acne by softening sebum to prevent clogged pores. Another study found using 2.5% linoleic acid gel for 4 weeks showed a 25% reduction in small comedones.
This ingredient can also help lighten hyperpigmentation or sun spots by disrupting the melanin production process. It also helps your skin shed melanin pigment from your skin caused by UV exposure.
Due to its role in the production of the fatty acid prostaglandin, linoleic acid can also help reduce inflammation and support wound healing.
Linoleic acid is not always fungal-acne safe; it may trigger flare-ups in sensitive individuals.
Learn more about Linoleic AcidMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 WaterYeast extract is a silky, clear liquid derived from yeast (usually Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Torula yeast).
This ingredient has plenty of skin benefits:
Bioferments of yeast and soy have been found to reduce hyperpigmentation at low levels.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Yeast Extract