What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCamellia Seed Oil
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Potato Protein
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Disiloxane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Camellia Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Potato Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Soluble Collagen, Silk Amino Acids, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Phosphatidylcholine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningOnsen-Sui
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Parfum
MaskingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeQuaternium-33
Alcohol
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventZinc Pyrithione
AntiseborrhoeicCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingMenthol
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLanolin Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rye Phytoplacenta Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningFagraea Berteroana Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingUrea
BufferingLecithin
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantCysteic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Succinate
BufferingPlumeria Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Onsen-Sui, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Parfum, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Steartrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-33, Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Panthenol, Propanediol, Zinc Pyrithione, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Lanolin Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cnidium Officinale Rhizome Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Zinc Chloride, Sorbitol, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Hydrolyzed Rye Phytoplacenta Extract, Glycine, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Fagraea Berteroana Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Urea, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Cysteic Acid, Sodium Succinate, Plumeria Alba Flower Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Biotin, Tocopherol
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
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
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 ArginineAspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.
Our body uses Aspartic Acid to help build collagen and elastin. It also plays a role in hydrating skin.
Butylene 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 TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCysteine is an amino acid found in our bodies. It becomes an antioxidant when converted into gluthatione.
Once it becomes gluthatione, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell. Gluthatione has also been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
Glutamic Acid is an amino acid that is found in all living organisms. Our bodies use this to help nerve cells in the brain communicate with other cells.
In cosmetics, glutamic acid is a famous humectant. It draws water from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated (like hyaluronic acid).
An in-vitro study from 2024 found glutamic acid to play a role in inhibiting inflammation and thus a potential skin-soothing ingredient.
Other studies show it to be have potential wound healing, skin barrier repair, and hair growth properties.
Glutamic acid has poor solubility in water and other solvents.
Learn more about Glutamic AcidGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if 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.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid used by our bodies to create protein. It has humectant and skin conditioning properties.
Our bodies use histidine to create filaggrin - filaggrin is a structural protein that the skin uses in maintaining skin barrier.
One study found histidine and carnosine to be a dynamic duo for your skin:
Oral histidine has also been found to help with filaggrin-deficit skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis.
Why is it considered a semi-essential amino acid? This is because adults are able to create it but children must get it from their diet.
Learn more about HistidineHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinHydrolyzed Soy Protein is a vegan protein made to mimic hydrolyzed collagen. It is created from soy, or glycine soja.
This ingredient is a humectant, meaning it helps hydrate the skin by binding to water. According to a manufacturer, it is also a great hair conditioner.
Read more about hydrolyzed collagen here.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Soy ProteinIsoleucine is an amino acid that helps reinforce our skin barrier. This amino acid plays a role in creating protein for the body.
Fun fact: Isoleucine is found in meat, fish, dairy, legumes, and nuts.
We don't have a description for Leucine yet.
Lysine is an essential amino acid (your body cannot make it on its own). It has skin conditioning properties and one of the key players in collagen synthesis.
When your body creates collagen, lysine is basically the glue that holds everything together. It helps collagen fibers lock into each other and stay strong, with vitamin C being its trusty sidekick. Without enough lysine, this glue gets flimsy and less firm, resulting in less bouncy skin.
In skincare, lysine is mostly there to help keep your skin moisturized. It carries water through your skin's layers so everything stays plump.
So will putting lysine on your face create bouncier skin?
It's hard to say; most of the exciting collagen research on lysine comes from oral supplements or lab studies on mice. Further research is needed to truly understand what role topical lysine plays in skincare and your skin.
However, there's no harm in adding lysine to your routine as a supportive and hydrating ingredient.
Learn more about LysineMethionine is an essential amino acid. It is a conditioning agent and commonly found in both skin and hair products.
This amino acid is a precursor to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
Fun fact: Methionine can be found in meat, fish, and dairy. It cannot be naturally produce and requires dietary intake.
Learn more about MethionineParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.
This ingredient is also used to help even out skin tone due to its ability to disrupt the melanin production process.
Two structures of phenylalanine exist: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is essential, this means our bodies cannot produce it naturally and we must get it from foods. Our bodies convert D-phenylalanine to neurotransmitters, and D-phenylalanine is found in our bodies naturally.
Some foods that contain L-phenylalanine include eggs, soybeans, beef, milk.
Learn more about PhenylalanineProline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in 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.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineThreonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Our skin uses threonine for creating collagen and elastin. Humans are not able to create threonine and must get it through eating foods such as fish, lentils, poultry, sesame seeds, and more.
Tyrosine is one of the amino acids used to create protein. It plays a role in melanin production.
A study from 2012 found tyrosine to show promising results in restoring skin volume.
Valine is an essential amino acid. It is used by our bodies for tissue repair and muscle growth.
An essential amino acid is one in which our bodies cannot naturally produce so we must get them through diet. Foods such as eggs, dairy, red meat, and fish contain valine.
This ingredient can either be derived from an animal product or be synthetically created.
Learn more about ValineWater. 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