What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Algae Extract
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Phytonadione Epoxide
AstringentHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Eurya Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Water, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Laureth-7, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Caffeine, Retinol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Algae Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Phytonadione Epoxide, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Glycine Soja Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Eurya Japonica Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polysorbate 20, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Diethanolamine
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glutathione
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Diethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 ExtractGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
