What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
CI 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 ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Cellulose, Squalane, Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Shorea Robusta Resin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Phenylpropanol, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, CI 77163, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ExtractCaprylyl 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 GlycolCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinLysine is an essential amino acid (your body cannot make it on its own). It has skin conditioning properties and one of the key players in collagen synthesis.
When your body creates collagen, lysine is basically the glue that holds everything together. It helps collagen fibers lock into each other and stay strong, with vitamin C being its trusty sidekick. Without enough lysine, this glue gets flimsy and less firm, resulting in less bouncy skin.
In skincare, lysine is mostly there to help keep your skin moisturized. It carries water through your skin's layers so everything stays plump.
So will putting lysine on your face create bouncier skin?
It's hard to say; most of the exciting collagen research on lysine comes from oral supplements or lab studies on mice. Further research is needed to truly understand what role topical lysine plays in skincare and your skin.
However, there's no harm in adding lysine to your routine as a supportive and hydrating ingredient.
Learn more about LysineMagnesium chloride is a mineral salt made from magnesium and chloride. It is mainly used to control product stability and texture in cosmetics.
This ingredient can also play a role in soothing the skin and supporting normal skin function.
Magnesium chloride is water-soluble, generally well tolerated, and does not act as a strong “active” ingredient on its own.
Learn more about Magnesium ChlorideThis ingredient is an emulsifier. It is created from Polyglycerin-3 and Ricinoleic Acid.
As an emulsifier, it prevents waters and oils from separating. According to a manufacturer this ingredient is fully biodegradable.
This ingredient may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis due to its Ricinoleic Acid base. Ricinoleic Acid is a fatty acid derived from castor oil.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient is a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.
It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.
Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
