What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPrunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantSalix Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhysalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Triticum Monococcum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pvp, Caffeine, Bisabolol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salix Alba Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Hydrolyzed Triticum Monococcum Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantPEG-75
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-32
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCola Acuminata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Algin
Pantethine
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOleth-3 Phosphate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientOleth-3
EmulsifyingOleth-5
EmulsifyingCholeth-24
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Ceteth-24
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, PEG-8, Propanediol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, PEG-75, Butylene Glycol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Tripeptide-32, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Squalane, Glycerin, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 CaffeineDisodium 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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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