What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Silica
Abrasive
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingWater, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caffeine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Carnosine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Phosphate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Laureth-12
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Nylon-12
Cetearyl Olivate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFerric Hexapeptide-35
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Nylon-12, Cetearyl Olivate, Propylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Caffeine, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Cera Microcristallina, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Sorbitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Ferric Hexapeptide-35, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Carbomer, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20
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 CaffeineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic 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 EthylhexylglycerinWe don't have a description for Glucosyl Hesperidin yet.
Glycerin (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.
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 Water
