What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
PEG-8
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Silanetriol
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Potassium Citrate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Soy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-8, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Caffeine, CI 77891, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Parfum, Silanetriol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Citrate, Lecithin, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Soy Isoflavones, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Petrolatum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicLecithin
Emollient
Cutaneous Lysate
MoisturisingTetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Capryloyl Carnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Squalene
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Petrolatum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Lecithin, Cutaneous Lysate, Tetrapeptide-21, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Citric Acid, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Tocotrienols, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Capryloyl Carnosine, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Squalene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate, Phytosterols, Sodium Citrate, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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
