What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAntrodia Cinnamomea Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Arginine, Antrodia Cinnamomea Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1
Onsen-Sui
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Betaine
HumectantSerine
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientGlutamic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Threonine
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingProline
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOnsen-Sui, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Betaine, Serine, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Glutamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Natto Gum, Threonine, Lysolecithin, Proline, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Water, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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