What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBrassica Glycerides
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytonadione Epoxide
AstringentPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Zerumbone
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRetinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Caffeine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Brassica Glycerides, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phytonadione Epoxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Zerumbone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Steareth-20, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Xanthan Gum, Retinal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tapioca Starch
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitol
Humectant
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSucralose
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Dilauryl Thiodipropionate
Antioxidant
Water, Undecane, Tridecane, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Caffeine, Isoamyl Laurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Triolein, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cyclodextrin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose, Citric Acid, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate
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 CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
