What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingSodium Palmate
CleansingSodium Palm Kernelate
CleansingSodium Stearate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Etidronic Acid
Niacinamide
SmoothingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBroussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract
Skin ConditioningErgosterol
Skin ConditioningGalactaric Acid
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCI 42051
Cosmetic ColorantSolvent Yellow 33
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Ergosterol, Galactaric Acid, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Parfum, CI 42051, Solvent Yellow 33, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantSodium Stearate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Myristate
CleansingSodium Palmitate
CleansingSodium Laurate
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingCoffea Arabica Seed Powder
AbrasiveCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlutathione
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Powder
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantTamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Laurate, Titanium Dioxide, Parfum, Coffea Arabica Seed Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Powder, Honey Extract, Tamarindus Indica Fruit 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.
Camellia 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 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium stearate is the sodium salt of stearic acid.
The structure of sodium stearate makes it both a cleanser and emulsifier. As a cleanser, it helps dissolve dirt, oil, and other pollutants. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. This adds stability to the formula.
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