What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Linoleate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolysilicone-8
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Isocetyl Stearate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Retinol, Retinyl Linoleate, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Polysilicone-8, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Catechins
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantOxidized Glutathione
EmollientGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Lactic Acid
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Propyl Methacrylate
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCis-Dihydrocarvone
PerfumingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Catechins, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propyl Methacrylate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Cis-Dihydrocarvone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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