What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Stearate
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Oleth-2
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oleth-2, Stearic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 47005, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate
Emulsifying
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sericin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tocopherol, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
