What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Nymphaea Alba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-3
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, PCA, Carbomer, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Biotin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Aspartic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Laureth-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol 10%
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Taurine
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Water, Panthenol 10%, Methylpropanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Vinyldimethicone, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Taurine, Xylitol, Erythritol, Arginine, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Morus Alba Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Cholesterol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sucrose Distearate
Reviews
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 GlycolCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
