What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Diheptyl Succinate, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Prunella Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Camphor
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Titanium Dioxide, Kaolin, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Bentonite, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Stearic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-40 Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 60, Niacinamide, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Camphor, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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
