What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEctoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Ectoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPolybutene
Sucrose
HumectantCetyl Esters
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantColeus Barbatus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingPolysilicone-11
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf
MaskingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingSqualane
EmollientMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientIsomerized Linoleic Acid
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polybutene, Sucrose, Cetyl Esters, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Coleus Barbatus Root Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Polysilicone-11, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Faex Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Milk Protein, Whey Protein, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Squalane, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cholesterol, Caffeine, PEG-8, Phytosphingosine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dimethicone, Isomerized Linoleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Potassium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
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 GlycolCaffeine 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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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