What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Nicotinate
SoothingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Isochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Dextran
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantQuaternium-51
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Keratin, Methyl Nicotinate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Tocopherol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Dextran, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Quaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycine, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Zinc Chloride, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Apigenin
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Baicalin
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTrigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Murraya Exotica Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Baicalin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Murraya Exotica Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Biotin, Caffeine, Arginine, Mentha Piperita Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate
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 ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Larix Europaea is a larch tree native to Europe.
It’s one of the key ingredients in Redensyl, an alternative to Minoxidil for hair growth. Redensyl works by targeting stem cells and fibroblasts from the top, inner layer of your skin.
The bark of Larix Europaea is rich in antioxidants and plant compounds such as flavonoids, spiro-polyphenols, and procyanidins.
Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in many plantsand foods like tea, wine, and chocolate. They’re known for their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Larix Europaea Wood ExtractThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for PPG-26-Buteth-26 yet.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Water. 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 WaterZinc chloride is a white crystalline compound. You'll most likely see it in personal care products such as mouthwashes, skincare, hair conditioners, and bath products.
