What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCarrageenan
Cladonia Rangiferina Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingDarutoside
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingMenadione
MaskingGlutathione
Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicNiacinamide
SmoothingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLinolenic Acid
CleansingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Carbomer, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Menadione, Glutathione, Glycol, Parfum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyanocobalamin
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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