What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Terminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Oleic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose, Lecithin, Silica, CI 77120, Sodium Hyaluronate, Jojoba Esters, Mica, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMaltodextrin 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.
Water. 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
