What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Disodium EDTA
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Panthenol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Arginine, Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sucrose Distearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Carnosine, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Amylopectin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, CI 77220, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Phenylpropanol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate
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 ArginineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPanthenol 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
