What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Root Extract
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsopentyldiol
HumectantArginine
MaskingSucrose Palmitate
EmollientSodium Surfactin
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Collagen Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ceramide NP, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Propanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isopentyldiol, Arginine, Sucrose Palmitate, Sodium Surfactin, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAgar
MaskingAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAlpha-Glucan
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientArginine
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingDarutoside
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Glucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativePhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingSilica
AbrasiveSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Mica, Agar, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Alpha-Glucan, Aluminum Hydroxide, Arginine, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Darutoside, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Glucosyl Ceramide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylisothiazolinone, Physalis Angulata Extract, Silica, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide, Triethyl Citrate
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 Water