What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Arginine
Masking
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingErythritol
Humectant
Rna
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Pullulan
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningMannitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Trehalose, Lecithin, Serine, Niacinamide, Arginine, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Phenylalanine, Histidine Hcl, Tyrosine, Erythritol, Rna, Algin, Pullulan, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Mannitol, Maltodextrin, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Arginine, Allantoin, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 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
