What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Panthenol, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin
Prunus Mume Fruit Water 74%
HumectantSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract 6%
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Mume Fruit Water 74%, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract 6%, Squalane, Propanediol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Olivate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, P-Anisic Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 GlycolCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolThis ingredient comes from the "five-flavor" berry native to northeast Asia. It has skin conditioning properties and is rich in antioxidants.
In lab models, this ingredient displays antioxidant effects in keratinocytes (the main cells in the epidermis). Some studies also report tyrosinase inhibiting or skin brightening activity.
One study using reconstructed human epidermis found this ingredient to help counter pollution-like inflammatory signaling in skin exposed to urban dust.
Learn more about Schisandra Chinensis Fruit ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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