What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantArginine
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-14 Alketh-12, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Betaine, Arginine, Sodium Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPantolactone
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientArginine
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pantolactone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Arginine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 ArginineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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