What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantZeolite
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycereth-26, Zeolite, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Xylitol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantMentha Piperita Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Leaf Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzophenone-4, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 ExtractCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneWater. 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