What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Caffeine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-2, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Steareth-20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Skin Extract
AntioxidantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingVp/Va Copolymer
Squalane
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Skin Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caffeine 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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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