What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Squalane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Collagen, Aminomethyl Propanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBrassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Viridiflora Leaf Oil
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Betaine, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Melaleuca Viridiflora Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Carbomer, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
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 ExtractCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella 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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
