What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Parfum
MaskingCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Arginine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Polyacrylate-13, Allantoin, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, CI 19140, Nonapeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingRaspberry Ketone
MaskingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingErgothioneine
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Nonapeptide-1, Bisabolol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Trisiloxane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide As, Carnosine, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Ectoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Ergothioneine, Potassium Sorbate
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
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 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 GlycerinNonapeptide-1 is created from amino acids including arginine and lysine.
It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Emerging studies show Nonapeptide-1 to help with reducing pigmentation and brightening the skin. It has shown to prevent the activation of tyrosinase, an enzyme in the skin that begins the process of melanin creation. Melanin is responsible for giving skin a tan or dark spots.
Learn more about Nonapeptide-1Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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