What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Curcuma Longa Callus Culture Conditioned Media
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Polydextrose
HumectantArginine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Glycine
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantAlanine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Dextran
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Phytic Acid
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialApigenin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Curcuma Longa Callus Culture Conditioned Media, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Avena Sativa Peptide, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Aspartic Acid, Polydextrose, Arginine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Glycine, PCA, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Alanine, Caprylyl Glycol, Serine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dextran, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Phytic Acid, Zinc Chloride, Apigenin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cellulose Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dextran
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Azelaic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Piroctone Olamine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin, Dextran, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This biometic peptide is designed to support hair growth.
According to a manufacturer, it stimulates hair growth by:
The manufacturer has found combining this ingredient with red clover extract (Capixyl) boosted benefits. Not only does it enforce the scalp's extracellular matrix, it also inhibits the enzyme that creates DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss.
While this ingredient is promising, more research is still needed to confirm its full effectiveness.
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3Butylene 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 CaffeineDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 HydroxyethylcelluloseSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract can be good for oily skin.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.
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 Water
