What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Extract
HumectantWater, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Trisiloxane, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Diglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Carbomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palm Kernelate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Potassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Methylparaben
PreservativePolyquaternium-43
Propylparaben
PreservativeHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingArginine
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantMilk Protein Extract
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Potassium Cocoate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycol Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-43, Propylparaben, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Milk Protein Extract, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
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 GlycolNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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