What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer
StabilisingDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberPerlite
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Thiosulfate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Alcohol Denat., Silica, Isopropyl Myristate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Propanediol, C12-22 Alkyl Acrylate/Hydroxyethylacrylate Copolymer, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Perlite, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Thiosulfate, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCera Alba
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel FormingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientEscin
TonicPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Rhamnose, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Tristearate, Triethanolamine, Caffeine, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Myristyl Alcohol, Escin, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Poloxamer 338, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol
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 CaffeineCaprylyl 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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