What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Cocoyl Glutamic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPEG-66 Trihydroxystearin
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Manicouagan Clay
AbsorbentRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Copper Chlorophyll
Cosmetic ColorantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocoyl Glutamic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Hydroxypropyl Starch, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Citric Acid, Glycol Distearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Trihydroxystearin, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, PEG-14m, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, PEG-66 Trihydroxystearin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Manicouagan Clay, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cellulose, Copper Chlorophyll, Dipropylene Glycol, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Xanthan Gum
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cellulose
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Powder
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArtemisia Caruifolia Powder
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cellulose, Oryza Sativa Powder, Sodium Isethionate, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Artemisia Caruifolia Powder, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract
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
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseThis ingredient comes from the cinnamon tree native to southern China.
Though cinnamon has a wonderful taste, it can cause skin irritation due to its rich coumarins, cinnamaldehyde, and styrene content.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
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 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
