What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSea Salt
AbrasiveSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
SurfactantLauryl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventTrehalose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientMenthol
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingSucrose Stearate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Seed Oil
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
PerfumingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Citrata Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc Pyrithione
AntiseborrhoeicZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Chloride, Water, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Sea Salt, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Cocoate, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Menthol, Trihydroxystearin, Polyquaternium-10, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sucrose Stearate, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Mentha Citrata Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Caffeine, Adenosine, Biotin, Mentha Piperita Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc Pyrithione, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glutamic Acid
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentDextrin
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingXylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingMannitol
HumectantSucrose
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glutamic Acid, Caffeine, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Panthenol, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Caprylyl Glycol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dextrin, Zea Mays Starch, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Mannitol, Sucrose, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fructooligosaccharides, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Biotin, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene 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 CaffeineCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is the essential oil from the leaves of cornmint. It is one of the richest natural sources of menthol on our planet (about 70-78%).
In cosmetics, this ingredient mostly works as a fragrance and/or masking agent used to cover up unpleasant smells of other ingredients.
The "cooling" sensation from mint isn't a real temperature change; menthol actives a nerve receptor in skin that gets triggered by cold. Your brain essentially gets a "cool" signal from it.
Just so you know, allergic contact dermatitis to menthol is documented in literature (but it's kind of uncommon). This is why the percentages allowed in leave-on products are quite low (0.2%). Be sure to patch test if you have sensitive skin.
Though this ingredient is not listed as an EU allergen, it's cousins (Mentha Piperita Oil, menthol and Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil) are.
Due to the high Menthol content of this ingredient, brands are required to label "menthol" as a separate ingredient on the list. The EU regulation labels the allergenic substance, not just the source ingredient, so the menthol carried in this ingredient still has to be declared.
Learn more about Mentha Arvensis Leaf OilThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilPanthenol 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 PanthenolWe don't have a description for PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether yet.
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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract