What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Glutathione, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-29
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carnitine
Cleansing
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Squalane, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carnitine, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
