What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Menthol
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Water, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Caffeine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Parfum, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Menthol
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Glycerin, Polyacrylamide, Menthol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Laureth-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerBenzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPhenoxyethanol 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
