What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Seed Extract
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingTrehalose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Asiaticoside, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCalcium Chloride
AstringentCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveNiacinamide
SmoothingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingRubus Coreanus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingArginine
MaskingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGold
Cosmetic ColorantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Calcium Chloride, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caffeine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Niacinamide, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Rubus Coreanus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Arginine, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gold, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77288
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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