What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCI 77002
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, CI 77002, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract
CleansingCodonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBetaine
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialThuja Orientalis Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Phytosterols, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Panthenol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Xanthan Gum, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Thuja Orientalis 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.
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
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 ExtractGlycerin (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 Water