What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialPhytic Acid
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oligopeptide-2, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Glycoproteins, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc Chloride, Phytic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid
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 ArginineGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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