What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMichelia Alba Flower Oil
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Arginine, Carbomer, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingMilk Protein Extract
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Trehalose, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sucrose Cocoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Parfum
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinArginine 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 CarbomerCoptis Japonica Root Extract, also known as Japanese Goldthread, is a traditional East Asian herb. It is prized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
That’s not all - research in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that its active compound, berberine, may help reduce fat accumulation and slow down fat cell development.
This makes it a promising ingredient for slimming and anti-cellulite products!
Learn more about Coptis Japonica Root ExtractDipropylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
