What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Yucca Filamentosa Root Extract
Allium Cepa Skin Extract
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Isomalt, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glycerin, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dextran, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Caffeine, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Yucca Filamentosa Root Extract, Allium Cepa Skin Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPicea Mariana Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Melatonin
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate/Caprate
StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingResveratrol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Bakuchiol, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Picea Mariana Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biotin, Caffeine, Dextran, Melatonin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Sebacate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Resveratrol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol
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
This biometic peptide is designed to support hair growth.
According to a manufacturer, it stimulates hair growth by:
The manufacturer has found combining this ingredient with red clover extract (Capixyl) boosted benefits. Not only does it enforce the scalp's extracellular matrix, it also inhibits the enzyme that creates DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss.
While this ingredient is promising, more research is still needed to confirm its full effectiveness.
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3Butylene 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 GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.
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
