What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialMorus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlisma Orientale Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Smilax Glabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientAndrographis Paniculata Extract
AstringentCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Acorus Gramineus Extract
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Alisma Orientale Tuber Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Smilax Glabra Root Extract, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Andrographis Paniculata Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Biotin, Pentylene Glycol, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Acorus Gramineus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Aspergillus Ferment
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dextran
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Caffeine, Panthenol, Arginine, Glycine, Glycoproteins, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Zinc Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metabisulfite, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ExtractCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
