What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveNepeta Cataria Extract
TonicRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBaptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Sprout Extract
EmollientMagnolia Kobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Sprout Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Alanyl Glutamine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract comes from the Japanese Knotweed plant native to Japan, Korea, and China.
This plant contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It contains high amounts of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
The root of the plant has been used in traditional folk medicine throughout Asia.
Learn more about Polygonum Cuspidatum Root ExtractSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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