What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Carrageenan
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Calcium Lactate
AstringentSucrose
Humectant
Calcium Chloride
AstringentPotassium Chloride
Arginine
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Carrageenan, Caffeine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Cellulose Gum, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glucomannan, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Calcium Lactate, Sucrose, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Arginine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Calcium Chloride
AstringentUltramarines
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Freesia Alba Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Chloride, Ultramarines, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 CaffeineCalcium chloride is a white, odorless, crystalline solid. It is an astringent and can be used to change the viscosity of products.
This ingredient is highly soluble in water, acetic acid, and ethanol.
There are many forms of this ingredient, including monohydrate, dihydrate, tetrahydrate, and hexahydrate.
Learn more about Calcium ChlorideCeratonia Siliqua Gum is extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. You might know this ingredient as Carob Gum or Locust Bean Gum. It is used to stabilize other ingredients and improve the texture of products.
Carob gum is made up of long-chain polysaccharides. This makes it a natural thickener.
Yes! This ingredient comes from the seeds of a tree. The name 'Locust Bean Gum' can be misleading.
Learn more about Ceratonia Siliqua GumGuar gum is made from the guar bean, a plant native to India. It is considered a form of polysaccharide and naturally contains sugar.
This ingredient is often used to thicken a product or create a gel-like consistency.
It also has emulsion properties to help keep ingredients together.
Learn more about Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba GumGlycerin (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.
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
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 Ricinus Communis Seed OilSodium 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
