What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Polyisobutene, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Malt Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Arginine, Maltodextrin, Mannitol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningC20-22 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gellan Gum
Agar
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf/Stem Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, C20-22 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gellan Gum, Agar, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Beta-Sitosterol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Phytosterols, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Cyanocobalamin, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Chloride, Phenylpropanol, Tocopherol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Collagen, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Dna
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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
