What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
CI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Poria Cocos Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Dipeptide-2, Phenoxyethanol, Hyaluronic Acid, Fructan, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Glucose, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Cholesterol, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oligopeptide-5, CI 16255, CI 15985
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 AcidWater. 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
