What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carrageenan
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
TonicAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Lactate
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Phytate
Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer
Arginine
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Prunella Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Calcium Chloride, Cellulose Gum, Chlorphenesin, Chondrus Crispus Powder, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Lactate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Norbornanediamine/Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 42090
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Water, Palmitic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinArginine 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 GlycolGlycerin (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
