What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingPullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexapeptide-10
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polysorbate 80, Lysolecithin, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexapeptide-10, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Tin Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPEG-75
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, PEG-75, Lactobacillus Ferment, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Betaine, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.
One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.
A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.
In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment LysateButylene 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 GlycolCaffeine 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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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