What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Natto Gum
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Glycerophosphate
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Potassium Magnesium Aspartate
BufferingAspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Histidine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Creatine
Skin ConditioningUric Acid
BufferingCysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Natto Gum, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, PCA, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Glycine, Urea, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Potassium Magnesium Aspartate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sodium Chloride, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Citric Acid, Cholesterol, Histidine, Silica, Acetyl Glucosamine, Creatine, Uric Acid, Cysteine, Methionine
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xylose
HumectantFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Glutamine, Borago Officinalis Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Pantothenic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Asiaticoside, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Asiatic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Madecassic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylose, Folic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hexapeptide-11, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Avena Sativa Peptide, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
