What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Sesquioleate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhlox Drummondii Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Cocos Nucifera Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Sesquioleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Citrate, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phlox Drummondii Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Lysine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Ornithine, Taurine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Cocos Nucifera Water 52%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Commiphora Abyssinica Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Water 52%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Glycosyl Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carbomer, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Commiphora Abyssinica Resin Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Yucca Schidigera Root 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 Water
