What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Artemisia Pallens Flower Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Lactobacillus, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Artemisia Pallens Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sea Water
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingEchinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sea Water, Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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 ExtractCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
