What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolymethylsilsesquioxane
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPEG-8
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingPantolactone
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbic Acid
PreservativeAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Linalool, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-8, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Alcohol Denat., Geraniol, Pantolactone, BHT, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citronellol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Sorbic Acid, Adenosine Phosphate, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic 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.
Camellia 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 ExtractCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum