What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Succinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether
SolventAcrylates Copolymer
Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Allium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Arginine
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Betaine, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Acrylates Copolymer, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Charcoal Powder, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Arginine, Hexylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ArginineDisodium 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 GlycerinWater. 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
