What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Orobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Collagen Amino Acids, Caffeine, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Propanediol, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Pentaoleate
Emulsifying
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tridecane
Perfuming
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Pentaoleate, Isoamyl Laurate, Undecane, Glycerin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecane, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Sulfate, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Raspberry Ketone, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Glycolipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Benzyl Glycol, Citric Acid, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
