What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Mel
EmollientCera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Mel, Cera Alba, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, PEG-75 Stearate, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Steareth-21, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Mel
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Agar
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Mel, Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tapioca Starch, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Carbomer, Polyglycerin-3, Agar, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 ArginineCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 Leaf Extract comes from the leaves of an herb plant native to Southeast Asia. Centella Asiatica is rich in antioxidants and amino acids. It can help reduce irritation and soothe the skin.
Many active components found in centella asiatica, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside, encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This helps keep our skin hydrated. Many of these components also show antioxidant activity and may help reduce the signs of aging.
Research shows centella asiatica can help increase Type I collagen production by increasing fibroblast production. Fibroblast helps form connective tissue.
The combination of all these properties makes centella asiatica leaf extract effective at soothing the skin.
Other components of centella asiatica leaf extract include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Recent studies found madecassoside may help prevent damage from UV rays by preventing UV-induced inflammation. Further research is needed.
This plant 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 Leaf ExtractChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Mel yet.
Pentylene 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 GlycolSecale Cereale Seed Extract is an exfoliant.
Sodium 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
