What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNylon-12
PEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingFraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Polystearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Xylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSilanetriol
Lecithin
EmollientSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Nylon-12, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Phytosterols, Polysorbate 80, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolic Acid, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Sucrose Polystearate, Carbomer, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Glucose, Parfum, Alcohol, Silanetriol, Lecithin, Soy Isoflavones, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Linoleate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolysilicone-8
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Isocetyl Stearate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Retinol, Retinyl Linoleate, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Polysilicone-8, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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