What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCysteine
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Phenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Methylpropanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Dextrin, Polyquaternium-51, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Butylene Glycol, Glycosphingolipids, Phospholipids, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Lysine, Methionine, Valine, Sodium Citrate, Cysteine, Citric Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Cholesterol, Tyrosine, Threonine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 ArginineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 Glycerin
