What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate
Sodium Gluceptate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Gluceptate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 80, Propylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Arginine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactonePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene 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
