What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract
HumectantEucalyptus Olida Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCydonia Oblonga Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Olida Leaf Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cydonia Oblonga Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
Cleansing
Trehalose
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialFarnesol
Perfuming
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingRubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Coconut Alkanes, Gluconolactone, Sodium Levulinate, Niacinamide, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Carnitine, Trehalose, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Anisate, Farnesol, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
Reviews
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 ExtractThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 SorbateSage leaf extract is a culinary and medicinal herb with antibacterial, antioxidant, and soothing properties.
This ingredient is made up of 75-90% ursolic acid, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
