What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientArginine
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Glucoside, Isohexadecane, Arginine, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Myristyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sea Silt
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Milk Protein Extract
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Sea Silt, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Milk Protein Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa Peptide, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Arginine, Laureth-7, Glycolic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Retinol, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 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 CarbomerGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
