What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialAlanine
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialArbutin
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHistidine
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPCA
HumectantValine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingPolydextrose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingProline
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSerine
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIsopropyl Cloprostenate
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantThreonine
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Alanine, Alcohol, Arbutin, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Biotin, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycine, Hexylene Glycol, Histidine, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isoleucine, Sodium Lactate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, PCA, Valine, Phenylalanine, Polydextrose, Polysorbate 20, Proline, Propylene Glycol, Serine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Cloprostenate, Yeast Extract, Sodium PCA, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 21
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 21, Madecassoside, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Serine, Citric Acid, Glutamic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
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 ArginineGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in 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.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineSodium 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