What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentTrifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Trifolium Pratense Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Decyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Glycolipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthophylls
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
