What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Canola Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Canola Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Phosphate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-20, Isopropyl Myristate, Ferulic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Retinol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic Beeswax, Hexylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia 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 ExtractDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
