What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningRedensyl
Baicalin
AntioxidantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialKeratin
Skin ConditioningPalmeth-2
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaffeine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialApigenin
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Citric Acid
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Gluconolactone, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Chloride, Apigenin, Tocopherol, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate
Reviews
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 CaffeineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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