What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caffeine, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Steareth-20, Bacillus Ferment, Glyceryl Caprylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ectoin, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Urea, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
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 CaffeineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
