What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root/Lycium Chinense Root/Ophiopogon Japonicus Root/Panax Ginseng Root/Poria Cocos/Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Cordyceps Sinensis/Ganoderma Lucidum/Inonotus Obliquus/Lentinus Edodes/Phellinus Linteus/Schizophyllum Commune/Tricholoma Matsutake Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSchizophyllum Commune Mycelium Ferment Filtrate Extract
HumectantSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantSaccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
Masking
Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panax Ginseng Cell Culture Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Saccharomyces/Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root/Lycium Chinense Root/Ophiopogon Japonicus Root/Panax Ginseng Root/Poria Cocos/Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus, Bacillus/Cordyceps Sinensis/Ganoderma Lucidum/Inonotus Obliquus/Lentinus Edodes/Phellinus Linteus/Schizophyllum Commune/Tricholoma Matsutake Extract Ferment Filtrate, Schizophyllum Commune Mycelium Ferment Filtrate Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Arginine, Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Thujopsis Dolabrata Branch Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Linoleic Acid, Glutathione, Tripeptide-29, Hexapeptide-9, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCamellia 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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 Glycerinsh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1Water. 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
