What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantFarnesol
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Caffeine, Myristyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citric Acid, CI 77891, Farnesol, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 16035
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Stearate
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Oleth-20
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMenthone Glycerin Acetal
Refreshing
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Propanediol, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mica, Sodium Stearate, Xylitol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Trehalose, Oleth-20, Glycerin, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Lactic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Gluconolactone, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Diheptyl Succinate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, CI 16035, CI 77891, Tin Oxide
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 CaffeineCi 16035 is a synthetic dark-red dye. This dye is created from an acid called Allura red AC, an azo dye.
Azo dyes need to be purified thoroughly before use. This makes them more stable and longer lasting.
This dye is commonly used in foods, approved by both the FDA and EFSA.
Learn more about CI 16035Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Citric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
