What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveGlycogen
HumectantPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningIsochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOctapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Hexapeptide-16
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Zingiber Officinale Water
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Curcuma Longa Callus Conditioned Media, Caffeine, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Glycogen, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Octapeptide-2, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12, Myristoyl Hexapeptide-16, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Phytic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Water
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePolymethylsilsesquioxane
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPolysilicone-11
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantCreatine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Trifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Nadh
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysilicone-11, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Creatine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Galactoarabinan, Trifolium Pratense Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Yeast Extract, Disodium Nadh, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Adenosine Phosphate, Arginine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate
Reviews
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 GlycolCaffeine 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 CaffeineCamellia 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 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.
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract comes from the Japanese Knotweed plant native to Japan, Korea, and China.
This plant contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It contains high amounts of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
The root of the plant has been used in traditional folk medicine throughout Asia.
Learn more about Polygonum Cuspidatum Root ExtractSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum