What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Vinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Tromethamine, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Caffeine, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
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
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 ExtractCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about Tromethamine
