What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingAgar
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glutathione
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Aluminum Glycinate
AstringentCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyacrylic Acid, Agar, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid, Arbutin, Alpha-Arbutin, Caffeine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glutathione, Adenosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tartaric Acid, Aluminum Glycinate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carrageenan
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Lactate
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Phytate
Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer
Arginine
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Prunella Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Calcium Chloride, Cellulose Gum, Chlorphenesin, Chondrus Crispus Powder, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Lactate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 42090
Reviews
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCellulose Gum is a water-soluble polymer that comes from cellulose. It is used to change the texture of a product and to help stabilize emulsions.
As an emulsifier, cellulose gum specifically thicken the texture of water-based products.
This ingredient is considered hypoallergenic and non-toxic. Cellulose Gum can be found in cosmetics, food, and other household goods such as paper products.
Learn more about Cellulose GumDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
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.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
