What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax
Skin Conditioning
C32-36 Isoalkyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caffeine, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax, C32-36 Isoalkyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Polybutene
Sucrose
Humectant
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polysilicone-11
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Squalane
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sulfate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polybutene, Sucrose, Cetyl Esters, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysilicone-11, Whey Protein, Caffeine, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, PEG-8, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Faex Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Mica, CI 77491, CI 19140, CI 77891
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 CaffeineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
