What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Trioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantMagnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingMalpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium PCA, Manganese PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Escin, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Synthetic Beeswax, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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.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 PropanediolSodium 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
