What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientArginine
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentPeat Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantAcetic Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Benzyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Panthenol, Carbomer, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Arginine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Squalane, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Corn Starch Modified, Peat Water, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Acetic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAHydrolyzed 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 AcidPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerWater. 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