What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantArginine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPlacental Protein
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPEG-9
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phytic Acid
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSilver Oxide
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Triethylhexanoin, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Leucine, Glycine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Placental Protein, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, PEG-9, Dimethicone, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phytic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Potassium Hydroxide, Silver Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingArginine Glutamate
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientArachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSilver Oxide
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Arginine, Arginine Glutamate, Leucine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glucosyl Ceramide, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Beta-Glucan, Sorbitol, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Silver Oxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arbutin is derived from the bearberry plant. It helps even out skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation.
This ingredient has the ability to block tyrosinase, an enzyme that starts the process of skin darkening. When applied to the skin, arbutin works at a slow pace. This can make it less irritating than similar ingredients.
Kojic Acid is a similar ingredient.
Learn more about ArbutinArginine 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 ArginineDipotassium 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 GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Leucine yet.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidWe don't have a description for Silver Oxide yet.
Water. 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