What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-2-Deceth-12
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Swertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningThuja Orientalis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Gramineus Extract
HumectantCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-16
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-62
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol Denat., C12-13 Alketh-9, Silica, Caffeine, Glycerin, PPG-2-Deceth-12, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Tromethamine, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Propolis Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Lecithin, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Asiaticoside, Biotin, Sodium DNA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Histidine, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract, Cysteine, Methionine, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Acorus Gramineus Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Ceramide NP, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Copper Tripeptide-1, Carnosine, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sh-Polypeptide-62
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Trehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polyquaternium-7
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Caffeine, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Disodium EDTA
Alternatives
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
