What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEDTA
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glucosamine Hcl
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Myristyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Corn Starch Modified, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Pisum Sativum Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, EDTA, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Octyldodecanol, Glucosamine Hcl, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclopentasiloxane
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycine
Buffering
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Linolenic Acid, Yeast Extract, Linoleic Acid, Glycine, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
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 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 CaffeineCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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
