What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycine
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Menadione
MaskingGlutathione
Glycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Oligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Carbomer, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Menadione, Glutathione, Glycol, Parfum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyanocobalamin
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 CaffeineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinolenic Acid is also known as "ALA" or alpha-linolenic acid. It is a key fatty acid.
Our skin uses this ingredient for maintaining a healthy skin barrier, regulating inflammation, and supporting keratinocyte function.
ALA is a great skin hydrator because it has the ability to restore lipids in our stratum corneum, or outermost layer of our skin; it also helps prevent transepidermal water loss.
This ingredient also helps soothe irritated skin by downregulating inflammation.
Chia seed oil is one of the highest natural sources of ALA. Research shows topical chia seed oil significantly improves skin hydration, reduces itch, and strengthens the barrier in both healthy and extremely dry skin.
Additionally, in-vivo and in-vitro studies show ALA exhibits antioxidant properties, reduces UV-induced inflammation, and supports wound healing.
Early research showed a fatty-acid deficiency in animals leads to abnormal skin barrier function. It is believed a deficiency in linolenic acid may be linked to skin disorders like eczema.
Fun fact: This ingredient is considered an essential fatty acid for humans. This means our bodies cannot naturally produce it and we must get it from food. Some foods rich in linolenic acid include walnuts, fish oils, soy, and canola.
Learn more about Linolenic AcidWater. 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
