What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Octyldodecanol, Glycereth-26, Pentylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Adenosine, Propanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Medicago Sativa Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinArginine 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizatePentylene 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
