What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sucrose Palmitate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Escin
TonicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Glucose
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Chloride
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Calcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPropylene Glycol Alginate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Glucuronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Thiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sucrose Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Linoleate, Carbomer, Lecithin, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Escin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Beta-Sitosterol, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Phosphate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Trihydroxystearin, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Atelocollagen, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopherol, Coenzyme A, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Glucuronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Reviews
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 CaffeineCitric 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSodium 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
