What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Algin
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAgastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Propanediol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Triethyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteareth-75 Ipdi
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningYogurt Powder
Olus Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glutaral
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Disteareth-75 Ipdi, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Lactose, Lactis Proteinum, Yogurt Powder, Olus Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Inulin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glutaral, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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