What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate
Sea Silt Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePlatonia Insignis Seed Butter
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBuddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentEpilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentPropanediol
SolventTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract
Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningTabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingHelichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingDimethylheptenal
PerfumingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingVetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract
PerfumingSea Silt Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Water, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Platonia Insignis Seed Butter, Gluconolactone, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Propanediol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Sucrose, Citronellol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Pod Extract, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Plankton Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Tocopherol, Triethyl Citrate, Dimethylheptenal, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Water. 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