What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Malic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mica, Sorbitan Olivate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sucrose
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Algae Extract
EmollientMorus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetula Alba Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Algin
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentJojoba Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Jojobate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Potassium Sulfate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Methyl Trimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Sucrose, Petrolatum, Polysorbate 40, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Betula Alba Bud Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Jojoba Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Esters, Isohexadecane, Yeast Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Rna, Caffeine, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Potassium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-32, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaffeine 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
