What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Succinic Acid
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethylamino Methylpropanol
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ethoxydiglycol, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Allantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Succinic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethylamino Methylpropanol, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Succinic Acid, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Arbutin, Chlorphenesin, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sarcosine, Xanthan Gum, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
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 ExtractCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Succinic acid is an odorless white powder. It is naturally found in our bodies but can also be derived from living organisms.
Succinic acid is water-soluble. The pH level of this ingredient is between 4.2 and 5.6.
While succinic acid posesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, these properties have not been studied in skincare products.
Fun fact: Succinic acid was known as the 'spirit of amber' in the past. This is because it used to be derived from distilling amber.
Learn more about Succinic AcidWater. 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
