What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
BufferingZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Caffeine, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Sodium Phytate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMenthyl PCA
HumectantEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSphinganine
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAlanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-14
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-45
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-7
AntiseborrhoeicSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Octyldodeceth-16, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Menthol, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl PCA, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sphinganine, Phosphatidylcholine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Glycine Soja Oil, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-14, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-7, Sh-Polypeptide-9
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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.
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 PropanediolWater. 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