What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantArginine
MaskingSucrose Distearate
EmollientPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Beta-Glucan, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Phytosphingosine, Polyacrylic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Ceramide NP, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Panthenol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Arginine, Sucrose Distearate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Thiamine Hcl, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Polysorbate 80, Ethyl Hexanediol, Retinyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetyl Tranexamate Mesylate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientCaprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Aspergillus Ferment, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cetyl Tranexamate Mesylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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 ArginineGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol 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