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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycol Distearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientCetyl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTerminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caffeine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetyl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Allantoin, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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