What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Ethoxydiglycol, Parfum, Caffeine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Menthol, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Arginine, Glycerin, Aspartic Acid, PCA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glycine, Alanine, Citric Acid, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Serine, Valine, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Potassium Sorbate, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Calcium Pantothenate
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-11
Safflower Glucoside
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Arginine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Caffeine, Limonene, Pyridoxine Hcl, Linalool, Polyquaternium-11, Safflower Glucoside, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Parfum
Reviews
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 ArginineCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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
