What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Milt Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Calcium Pantothenate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Mannitol, Sodium Dna, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Zea Mays Starch, Milt Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mica, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, CI 77492, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tranexamic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Sea Water 50%
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Abyssinica Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSea Water 50%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Commiphora Abyssinica Resin Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
