What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentTanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentGlucose
HumectantLecithin
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Water, Carrageenan, Caffeine, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glucose, Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantOxidized Glutathione
EmollientMelanin
Skin ProtectingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Propyl Gallate
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propyl Gallate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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 CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Water. 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