What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-81
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-81, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Oenothera Biennis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Polyquaternium-10, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arginine, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Caffeine, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Sh-Polypeptide-50, Citric Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lauryl Glucoside, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Phosphate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate
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 CaffeineCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Polyquaternium-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-10Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
