What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Pullulan
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Bakuchiol, Pullulan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Psidium Guajava Seed Oil
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Citrate
BufferingSilanetriol
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cetyl Palmitate, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Psidium Guajava Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caffeine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Batyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Potassium Citrate, Silanetriol, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
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 CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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.
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 Water
