What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Trametes Versicolor Extract
Algae Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centaurium Erythraea Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingC9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Triacetin
AntimicrobialUrea
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Triolein, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sucrose, Tapioca Starch, Acetyl Glucosamine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Algae Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Centaurium Erythraea Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Artemia Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Glucose, Trehalose, Caffeine, Panthenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sorbitol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Triheptanoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Dioleate, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Citric Acid, Triacetin, Urea, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Polyquaternium-51, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Arginine, Sodium PCA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Tetrasodium EDTA
Reviews
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
