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
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Chebula Extract
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Terminalia Chebula Extract, Water, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Mica, CI 77491, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
