What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Algae Oligosaccharides
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hazelnut Seed Oil Decyl Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Plantago Major Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPlantago Psyllium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
Masking
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Citrus Limon Peel
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRhizobian Gum
Goat Fat
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sucrose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNephelium Longana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientStearyl Caprylate
EmollientCetyl Caprylate
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hydrogen
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Kalanchoe Spathulata Extract
Antioxidant
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPeucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Leaf Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Daemonorops Draco Extract
AstringentZea Mays Kernel Extract
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Phosphate
BufferingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Water, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Algae Oligosaccharides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Hazelnut Seed Oil Decyl Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Chlorphenesin, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Plantago Major Seed Extract, Plantago Psyllium Seed Extract, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Magnolol, Tranexamic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, Rhizobian Gum, Goat Fat, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Sucrose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Nephelium Longana Seed Extract, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearyl Caprylate, Cetyl Caprylate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Garcinia Mangostana Seed Oil, Arbutin, Hydrogen, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kalanchoe Spathulata Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Peucedanum Ostruthium Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Carnosine, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Daemonorops Draco Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Atelocollagen, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ammonium Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Plankton Extract, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Oleyl Oleate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theanine
EmollientAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Alnus Firmifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract
Skin ConditioningIsodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caerulea Fruit Juice
HumectantLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMucuna Birdwoodiana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
Emollient
Cholesteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Succinate
MaskingEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Succinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Oleyl Oleate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Alcohol, Phytosteryl Oleate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Theanine, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Adenosine, Alnus Firmifolia Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Caerulea Fruit Juice, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Maltose, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mucuna Birdwoodiana Stem Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Algin, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Cholesteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dimethicone, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Disodium Succinate, Ethyl Oleate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isohexadecane, Lecithin, Oleyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Oleate, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Caramel
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life due to its chemical structure. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils, preventing it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilMentha Piperita Leaf Extract is extract from peppermint leaves. It has a "cooling" sensory feel depending on what compounds are found in the extract.
Peppermint leaves contain polyphenols that antioxidant activity. In-vitro studies show anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity against some bacteria and fungi.
Evidence for mint as a "treatment" ingredient is limited and depends heavily on the specific extract type and concentration.
In large percentages, peppermint extract may sensitize the skin.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita Leaf ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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.
This long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.
It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.
Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerSodium 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
