What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantSea Water
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodeceth-16, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Madecassoside, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide NP
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 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum