What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Octyldodecanol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDeceth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentRose Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyacrylamide, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Deceth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Parfum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Chlorphenesin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Laureth-7, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, CI 42090, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Propylene Glycol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Sorbitan Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceteareth-20, Polyglutamic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Cyanocobalamin, Triethanolamine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Ceramide EOP, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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