the-ordinary The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + Egcg
the-ordinary The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + Egcg lists 25 ingredients on its label, 25 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
- Aqua
- Caffeine
- Maltodextrin
- Glycerin
- Propanediol
- Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
- Gallyl Glucoside
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Oxidized Glutathione
- Melanin
- Glycine Soja Seed Extract
- Pentylene Glycol
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
- Xanthan Gum
- Lactic Acid
- Dehydroacetic Acid
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Propyl Gallate
- Dimethyl Isosorbide
- Benzyl Alcohol
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Phenoxyethanol
- Caprylyl Glycol
Highlights
Free of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergens
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- AquaPropanediol
- SKIN CONDITIONING
- Caffeine
- ABSORBENT
- Maltodextrin
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- ANTIOXIDANT
- Epigallocatechin Gallatyl GlucosideGallyl Glucoside
- ANTISTATIC
- Hyaluronic Acid
Other ingredients
Oxidized GlutathioneMelaninGlycine Soja Seed ExtractPentylene GlycolHydroxyethylcellulosePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Xanthan GumLactic AcidDehydroacetic AcidTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinatePropyl GallateDimethyl IsosorbideBenzyl Alcohol1,2-HexanediolEthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanolCaprylyl Glycol
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irritancy | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 | Green |
| Caffeine | SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE | 0 | Green |
| Maltodextrin | ABSORBENT, BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 | Green |
| Propanediol | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 | Green |
| Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Gallyl Glucoside | ANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Hyaluronic Acid | ANTISTATIC, HUMECTANT, MOISTURISING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Oxidized Glutathione | SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Melanin | SKIN PROTECTING | 0 | Green |
| Glycine Soja Seed Extract | SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Pentylene Glycol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 | Green |
| Hydroxyethylcellulose | BINDING, EMULSION STABILISING, FILM FORMING, LIGHT STABILIZER, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 | Green |
| Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 | EMULSION STABILISING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 | Green |
| Xanthan Gum | BINDING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, GEL FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 | Green |
| Lactic Acid | BUFFERING, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 1 | Green |
| Dehydroacetic Acid | PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/13 | — | Yellow |
| Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate | CHELATING | 0 | Green |
| Propyl Gallate | ANTIOXIDANT, PERFUMING | 1 | Green |
| Dimethyl Isosorbide | SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 | Green |
| Benzyl Alcohol | PRESERVATIVE, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING · 限制 III/45 and V/34 | 1 | Yellow |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT | 0 | Green |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
| Phenoxyethanol | ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/29 | 1 | Yellow |
| Caprylyl Glycol | DEODORANT, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING | 0 | Green |
Comedogenic ratings need a published source. This batch is not yet sourced, so it is not shown.
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Caffeine
- Active ingredient, 0.1–2%; promotes circulation, irritation risk at high concentration.
- Maltodextrin
- High-MW multifunctional excipient for thickening, binding, and emulsion stability; inert, non-penetrating conditioning.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Propanediol
- Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative
- Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
- Tea polyphenol analog; antioxidant & skin conditioning
- Gallyl Glucoside
- Gallate-derived glucoside as antioxidant and skin conditioner; use at low levels, avoid acidic matrix incompatibility.
- Hyaluronic Acid
- High-water-binding humectant at 0.1-1%; high-MW for surface film, low-MW for dermal potential, check cationic compatibility.
- Oxidized Glutathione
- Oxidized glutathione for skin conditioning; low stability requires light and oxygen protection
- Melanin
- Melanin as pigment or UV absorber; natural colorant, shade depends on purity, used in dark concealers.
- Glycine Soja Seed Extract
- Soybean extract for skin conditioning; low allergen risk, monitor batch protein variability.
- Pentylene Glycol
- Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
- Water-soluble thickener; requires neutralizer, performs best at pH 5–7
- Xanthan Gum
- Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration
- Lactic Acid
- AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.
- Dehydroacetic Acid
- Broad-spectrum preservative for acidic and oil-based systems; has concentration limits, requires challenge testing.
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions
- Propyl Gallate
- Oil-soluble antioxidant for oil stability; mild skin irritant.
- Dimethyl Isosorbide
- Dimethyl isosorbide as solvent and viscosity control; low toxicity, common use
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel
- Phenoxyethanol
- Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-19. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
Want to build one like this? Send an enquiry