What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
Abrasive
Carrageenan
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXylitol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Gellan Gum
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCalcium Chloride
AstringentTin Oxide
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Bis(Glycidoxyphenyl)Propane/Bisaminomethylnorbornane Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caffeine, Ceramide NP, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Carrageenan, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Sucrose, Anhydroxylitol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xylitol, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Copper Gluconate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gellan Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Calcium Chloride, Tin Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Bis(Glycidoxyphenyl)Propane/Bisaminomethylnorbornane Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 42090, CI 77891, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tridecane
Perfuming
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Undecane, Triheptanoin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Tridecane, C9-12 Alkane, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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
