What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientSucrose
HumectantLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Xylitol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Sucrose, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Myristyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
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.
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
Butylene 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 GlycolCamellia 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 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 GlycerinSodium 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum