What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Lactose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Caprifolium Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Uncaria Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningAgrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentCorydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Nepeta Cataria Extract
TonicMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Lactose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Panthenol, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Madecassoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactobionic Acid is a PHA. PHAs are the gentle cousins to AHAS.
Like AHAs, they exfoliate the top layer of skin. Lactobionic acid also exhibits significant antioxidant activity.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. This means they do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
By removing dead skin cells, PHAs leave the skin brighter and with even-texture.
Learn more about Lactobionic AcidPanthenol 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
