What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Water
AstringentAmylopectin
Dimethicone
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSalicylic Acid
MaskingChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Water, Amylopectin, Dimethicone, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Xylitol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Myristyl Glucoside, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Citric Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Tromethamine, Glycolipids, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningLaurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Arginine
MaskingPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingHoney Extract
HumectantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParietaria Officinalis Extract
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentParfum
MaskingWater, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Arginine, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Parfum
Alternatives
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 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPentylene 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 GlycolWater. 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