What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Verbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Squalane, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Tribehenin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ectoin, Niacinamide, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Distearate
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Morus Bombycis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sucrose
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
EDTA
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Distearate, Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Steareth-10, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide Ng, Cyanocobalamin, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Silica, Tin Oxide, Sucrose, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Linoleic Acid, Panthenol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, EDTA, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Mica, CI 77891, CI 14700
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 ExtractCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Citric 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 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 HyaluronateTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
