What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglycerin-6
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingC15-19 Alkane
SolventSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Zea Mays Starch, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Caffeine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglycerin-6, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, C15-19 Alkane, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Ascorbic Acid
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSucrose
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientPolysorbate 40
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientMorus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Algin
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentJojoba Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Jojobate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPotassium Sulfate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTripeptide-32
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Trimethicone, Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Sucrose, Petrolatum, Polysorbate 40, Trehalose, Algae Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Jojoba Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Esters, Isohexadecane, Faex Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Rna, Caffeine, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Potassium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tripeptide-32, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
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 CaffeineDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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