What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Carbomer, Arginine, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Malt Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Saururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Aloe Barbadensis Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Allantoin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Sorbitan Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Aloe Barbadensis Ferment Filtrate, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
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 BetaineDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseSodium 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
