What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin Conditioning
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Pearl Powder
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin, Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Copper Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Aspartate, Honey Extract, Pearl Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrapeptide-14, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract, Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Sodium Phytate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Caprylate
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 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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 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
