What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSandalore
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Methylparaben
PreservativePolyquaternium-10
Mentha Piperita Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicAlcohol
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Xylenesulfonate
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Caffeine, Sandalore, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Niacinamide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-10, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Biotin, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantGlycol Distearate
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingOleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialAmodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-10
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Oleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Caffeine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Niacinamide
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 CaffeineCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Water. 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