What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
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
Sucrose
Humectant
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 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, Sucrose, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Trehalose
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
PEG-8
HumectantPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Trisodium Hedta
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Trehalose, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Algae Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Ergothioneine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG-8, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Parfum, Trisodium Hedta, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 14700
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 CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolThis ingredient comes from the pomegranate plant. It's rich in antioxidants (punicalagins, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins) that also give pomegranates their vivid color and reputation as a "superfruit".
Research on skin cells, reconstructed skin models, and in small human trials is pretty encouraging, this extract:
Ellagic acid has also been shown to slow the enzyme that makes pigment so it can help even out dark spots and uneven skin tone over time.
A 2025 study where 60 women used either a pomegranate extract or a placebo backed this up; the pomegranate group had less redness, less extra pigment, and better-hydrated skin after UV exposure. Needless to say, this ingredient should not be replacing your sunscreen.
Learn more about Punica Granatum ExtractSodium 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
