What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentZinc PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSucrose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sucrose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Adenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPantethine
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningGold
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Tromethamine
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Polysorbate 20, Acetyl Glucosamine, Faex Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Pantethine, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Cholesterol, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Gold, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Tromethamine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, CI 77891, Mica, CI 17200
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCamellia 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 ExtractCaprylyl 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, 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Hordeum Vulgare Extract yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
