What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Perfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientChrysin
Skin ConditioningPhenyl T-Butylnitrone
Antioxidant
Carrageenan
Water, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Olivate, Caffeine, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Sorbitan Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Perfluorodecalin, Gluconolactone, Tartaric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Benzoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Glucose, Astaxanthin, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Chrysin, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone, Carrageenan
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMorus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Dipalmitate
Skin ConditioningSucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Petrolatum
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Isostearyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Caffeine, Phytosphingosine, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Whey Protein, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Dipalmitate, Sucrose, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Laurate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Reviews
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is used in skincare because it tends to be more formulation friendly than pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
According to research, MAP has three major benefits:
While MAP is gentler on the skin than ascorbic acid, it is thought to be less easily absorbed into the skin.
In a well-known absorption study, pure vitamin C increased skin vitamin C levels when formulated correctly, but derivatives like MAP did not in that experiment. This suggests MAP may not always convert into active vitamin C in the skin.
Due to MAP's stability up to a pH level of 7, it is more stable to air and sunlight exposure than ascorbic acid. The best pH range for MAP is between 5 and 6.
Learn more about Magnesium Ascorbyl PhosphatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
