What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasivePunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Salicina Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSwiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVincetoxicum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasivePunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Salicina Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMonascus/Rice Ferment
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
EDTA
Parfum
MaskingSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Arginine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, EDTA, Parfum, Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineArginine 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 ArginineCarbomer 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 CarbomerChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract comes from the watermelon. Watermelon has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Watermelons are rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and lycopene. It also contains sugars and amino acids, such as arginine and glutathione.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. Besides helping to protect your skin against free-radical molecules, it also helps soothe the skin. Lycopene gives watermelon the distinct red color.
Learn more about Citrullus Lanatus Fruit ExtractDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene 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 EDTAFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract comes from the beach strawberry. This is a strawberry native to Pacific coasts of North America, South America, and Hawaii. It likes to grow on sandy beaches.
Beach strawberries have antioxidant and moisturizing properties. They contain many compounds that are potent antioxidants, such as anthocyanins and Vitamin C.
The sugar, or polysaccharides, in strawberries help hydrate the skin by increasing water retention.
Strawberries also contain acids such as ellagic acid, a compound that may protect our skin against UVB damage. Another acid present is citric acid.
Fun fact: The strawberry we buy and eat today was created as a hybrid from the beach strawberry.
Learn more about Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
The tannin content of witch hazel constrict the appearance of pores by drying out proteins. Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
However, witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing due to the tannin and fragrance compounds.
North American Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana ExtractHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractPrunus Persica Fruit Extract comes from peaches.
Peaches are rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamins C, E and A. Antioxidants help reduce the signs of aging. These vitamins also have plenty of skin benefits on their own (for instance, Vitamin C, E helps with skin brightening).
Peach extract is also an abrasive. Abrasives are an agent used to wear away the surface of skin. They are used to help polish or exfoliate skin.
Emerging research shows Peach extract may help protect UV-B induced skin damage. However, further research is needed.
Learn more about Prunus Persica Fruit ExtractPrunus Salicina Fruit Extract is an antioxidant.
You might know this ingredient as pomegranate fruit. It has been shown to have antioxidant, skin soothing and anti-aging benefits.
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidant compounds such as polyphenolic compounds such as ellagic acid, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids.
Both in-vivo and in-vitro studies show pomegranate fruit helps with:
These benefits offer skin anti-aging and skin soothing benefits.
Fun fact: The name pomegranate comes from two latin words: "pome" or apple, and "granate" or "many seeded".
Pomegranate flower extract is often confused for pomegranate fruit extract, but comes from the flowers of the tree.
Learn more about Punica Granatum Fruit ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateWe don't have a description for Vincetoxicum Atratum Extract yet.
Water. 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