What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentApium Graveolens Seed Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9
Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantDextran
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Dextran, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Glycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCreatine
Skin ConditioningDextran
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingXylitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingGlucose
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentAlcohol
AntimicrobialAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
BufferingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOcimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Caffeine, Isomalt, Anhydroxylitol, Creatine, Dextran, Sodium Benzoate, Xylitol, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Citric Acid, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Biotin, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Hairy Root Culture Extract, Zinc Chloride, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This biometic peptide is designed to support hair growth.
According to a manufacturer, it stimulates hair growth by:
The manufacturer has found combining this ingredient with red clover extract (Capixyl) boosted benefits. Not only does it enforce the scalp's extracellular matrix, it also inhibits the enzyme that creates DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss.
While this ingredient is promising, more research is still needed to confirm its full effectiveness.
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3Butylene 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 ExtractCitric 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 AcidDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.
Water. 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