What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-10
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium DNA, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Trideceth-10, Madecassoside, Arginine, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Asiaticoside, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Ceramide NP, Glycolipids, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Malt Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingButylene Glycol
HumectantHonokiol
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Succinic Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Tocopherol, Arginine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Honokiol
Reviews
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 ArginineBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 PanthenolWater. 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