What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingArginine
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventLinalool
PerfumingSodium Phytate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantArginine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingGeranium Maculatum Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Arginine, Allantoin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Chlorphenesin, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinArginine 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 ArginineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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