What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Placental Protein
HumectantArbutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Leucine, Glycine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Placental Protein, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Tocopherol, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Simethicone
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glutathione
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Salmon Egg Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Simethicone, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polyacrylate-13, Sodium DNA, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyisobutene, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Salmon Egg Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cyanocobalamin, Thioctic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 ArginineCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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
