What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantCurculigo Orchioides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides
Skin ConditioningGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSodium Salicylate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Gellan Gum
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Gallyl Glucoside, Arginine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Propyl Gallate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Gellan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHexyldecanol
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantRosmarinyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCaffeyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone
Skin ConditioningHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Histidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingMirabilis Jalapa Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCurculigo Orchioides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningIsochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDextran
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Squalane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hexyldecanol, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Rosmarinyl Glucoside, Caffeyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Superoxide Dismutase, Sodium PCA, PCA, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Mirabilis Jalapa Callus Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Stearic Acid, Dextran, Isoceteth-20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, Tromethamine, Dehydroacetic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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 ArginineBenzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract yet.
Dehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidThis ingredient is a modified version of the famous antioxidant found in green tea, EGCG.
EGCG has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to protect skin from UV-induced damage.
Since this ingredient is modified to attach to a glucose molecule, it also has great hydrating properties.
Learn more about Epigallocatechin Gallatyl GlucosideGallyl Glucoside is an antioxidant.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPropyl Gallate is a synthetic antioxidant. It works by protecting the oils, fats, and fragrance compounds in a formula from going rancid through oxidation, helping the product stay stable and effective for longer.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel recommends keeping Propyl Gallate at or below 0.1% due to potential sensitization at higher levels, and most formulas stay within that limit.
We flag Propyl Gallate as both a general irritant and a lip irritant because direct skin contact can trigger redness or allergic contact dermatitis. The more sensitive skin on and around the lips is prone to reacting.
Learn more about Propyl GallateTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract is an antioxidant.
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