What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAvena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingAlgae Extract
EmollientBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Olus Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Yogurt Powder
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Algae Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Olus Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lactic Acid, Yogurt Powder, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Darutoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Magnesium Silicate
Propanediol
Solvent
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Iron Oxides
Water, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Propanediol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caffeine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Acetyl Glutamine, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCamellia 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
