What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cholesterol, Sodium Surfactin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Behenic Acid, Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Betaine, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Proline, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Oxidized Glutathione
EmollientAcetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Mirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Gellan Gum
Algin
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Phytic Acid
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Superoxide Dismutase, Ergothioneine, Oxidized Glutathione, Acetyl Zingerone, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-2, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ectoin, Arginine, Sorbitol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Glycerin, Gellan Gum, Algin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
