What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingCoconut Acid
CleansingClimbazole
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-10
Xylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantMaltitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantPelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Isethionate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlutamine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingCysteine
AntioxidantAsparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
CleansingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantTriticum Vulgare Gluten
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamide Mipa, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeine, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Coconut Acid, Climbazole, Polyquaternium-10, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Maltitol, Xylitol, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Sodium Isethionate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Biotin, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cysteine, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Carnitine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Triticum Vulgare Gluten, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAsarum Sieboldii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantThuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract
AntioxidantLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingRheum Palmatum Root Extract
AstringentDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, Caffeine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Asarum Sieboldii Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Menthol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Reviews
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 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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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