What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Trehalose
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium 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, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Ferulic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Propanediol, Cellulose Gum, Limonene
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 ExtractDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
