What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Coffea Robusta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Maris Aqua
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Yogurt
Skin ProtectingYogurt Powder
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Algin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ascorbic Acid, CI 77120, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Citric Acid, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Jojoba Esters, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Maltodextrin, Maris Aqua, Mica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Potassium Phosphate, Pullulan, Saccharide Isomerate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Serine, Silica, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Urea, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysilicone-11
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Silica, Propanediol, Polysilicone-11, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Ceteareth-20, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Boron Nitride, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Chlorphenesin
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
