What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, C15-19 Alkane, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Hull Extract
MoisturisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Hull Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is created from dehydrating xylitol in acidic conditions. Xylitol is a famous sugar and humectant.
Much like its predecessor, anhydroxylitol is a humectant. Humectants attract and hold water to moisturize the skin.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol (24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
This ingredient is often derived from plants such as wood and sugarcane.
Learn more about AnhydroxylitolCamellia 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 ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Water. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about XylitolXylitylglucoside is created from xylitol and glucose, two humectants.
Not surprisingly, this ingredient is also a humectant. It attracts and holds water in your skin, helping to maintain hydration.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol(24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
Learn more about Xylitylglucoside