What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXylitol
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantPullulan
Tripropylene Glycol
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantLunaria Annua Seed Oil
EmollientPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Xylitylglucoside, Adenosine, Anhydroxylitol, Malt Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glucose, Pullulan, Tripropylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Lunaria Annua Seed Oil, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCanola Oil
EmollientTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Canola Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
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 ExtractEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is a fatty acid ester.
The fatty acid content of Ethylhexyl Palmitate makes it an emollient. Emollients help soften and hydrate your skin by trapping moisture within.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is also used to help improve the texture of cosmetics. It helps other ingredient dissolve in products and help disperse ingredients more evenly.
You'll likely find this ingredient in sunscreen, as it is often used to mix UV-blocking ingredients such as avobenzone and ethylhexyl triazone.
It can also help stabilize the fragrances in a product as a fragrance fixative.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate can be used to substitute mineral oil.
Due to its high fatty acid content, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenSodium 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