What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Trehalose, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, CI 77492, CI 77288, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77007, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Citrus Limon Fruit Water
MaskingArginine
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyester-5
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Canola Oil
Emollient
Buteth-3
SolventTributyl Citrate
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Fruit Water, Arginine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Caffeine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ferulic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Polyester-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Canola Oil, Buteth-3, Tributyl Citrate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene
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.
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 preservatives
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 ExtractCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
