What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Extract
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Glycereth-26, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 19140, CI 77007
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientArginine
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyisobutene
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSucrose Distearate
EmollientAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Diglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Glyceryl Stearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Arginine, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Squalane, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Hydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glucose, Stearic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Polyglutamic Acid
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 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