What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingJuniperus Communis Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-44
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Nitrate
SoothingGlyoxal
Antimicrobial
Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrapeptide-44, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Nitrate, Glyoxal
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.
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 preservatives
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 ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 Water
