What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Petrolatum
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAronia Arbutifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Chitosan
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Aronia Arbutifolia Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Chitosan, Retinyl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract
Escin
TonicAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPicea Abies Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCinnamic Acid
Perfuming
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Plant Ash
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, PEG-20 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract, Escin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Picea Abies Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cinnamic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Plant Ash
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 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer 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 CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
