What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Wool
HumectantGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ag
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Glyceryl Oleate Phosphate
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSorbitol
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePEG-8
HumectantPropyl Alcohol
SolventDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wool, Gamma-Docosalactone, Polyquaternium-67, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glucosyl Ceramide, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Sodium PCA, PCA, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Proline, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Sodium Lactate, Phytosterols, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Dimethiconol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Glyceryl Oleate Phosphate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitol, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Steartrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, PEG-8, Propyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDodecane
EmollientAmmonium Propionate
PreservativeSodium Tosyl Valinate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-64
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingDihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingArginine
MaskingPyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingCystine
MaskingAzelaic Acid
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-2
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Glutamate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningDextran
PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate
MoisturisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientChitosan
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate
EmulsifyingOleth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dodecane, Ammonium Propionate, Sodium Tosyl Valinate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Polyquaternium-64, Polyquaternium-61, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Gamma-Docosalactone, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Lactic Acid, Dihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Arginine, Pyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Cystine, Azelaic Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-2, Phytosphingosine, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isohexadecane, Polyquaternium-47, Dextran, PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Chitosan, Pvp, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-20 Sorbitan Cocoate, Oleth-20, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Algin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 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 GlycolCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeWe don't have a description for Gamma-Docosalactone yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinYou can find hydrolyzed silk in both haircare and skincare products. According to a manufacturer, it can help improve skin and hair hydration.
This ingredient is created by adding acid or enzymes to 'hydrolyze' silk protein.
Due to the origins of this ingredient, it is not vegan. Silk is an animal product from silkworms.
Depending on the source, this ingredient can be considered cruelty-free. It is created from left-over cocoons of silkworms. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about where their hydrolyzed silk comes from.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed SilkHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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