What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlycol Distearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingThreonine
Valine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Threonine, Valine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycolipids, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, PEG-150 Distearate, Phospholipids, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCoconut Alkanes
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientSchinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientXimenia Americana Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyester-37
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diheptyl Succinate, Glycerin, Coconut Alkanes, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Glycolic Acid, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyester-37, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Aspartic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Gluconolactone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.
As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.
Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineAspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.
Our body uses Aspartic Acid to help build collagen and elastin. It also plays a role in hydrating skin.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is an amino acid that helps build proteins and moisturizes skin. It is already present in our skin as our bodies produce them naturally.
Glycine already plays a role in helping keep our skin moisturized as amino acids transport moisture throughout our skin.
As collagen is made up of glycine and other amino acids, it is believed glycine may help our skin produce more collagen.
Learn more about GlycineHistidine is a semi-essential amino acid used by our bodies to create protein. It has humectant and skin conditioning properties.
Our bodies use histidine to create filaggrin - filaggrin is a structural protein that the skin uses in maintaining skin barrier.
One study found histidine and carnosine to be a dynamic duo for your skin:
Oral histidine has also been found to help with filaggrin-deficit skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis.
Why is it considered a semi-essential amino acid? This is because adults are able to create it but children must get it from their diet.
Learn more about HistidineHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseIsoleucine is an amino acid that helps reinforce our skin barrier. This amino acid plays a role in creating protein for the body.
Fun fact: Isoleucine is found in meat, fish, dairy, legumes, and nuts.
PCA is derived from amino acids and is naturally found in our skin's barrier.
As a humectant, PCA helps draw and hold moisture to the skin. Studies show it is effective at helping the skin stay hydrated long-term.
Phenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.
This ingredient is also used to help even out skin tone due to its ability to disrupt the melanin production process.
Two structures of phenylalanine exist: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is essential, this means our bodies cannot produce it naturally and we must get it from foods. Our bodies convert D-phenylalanine to neurotransmitters, and D-phenylalanine is found in our bodies naturally.
Some foods that contain L-phenylalanine include eggs, soybeans, beef, milk.
Learn more about PhenylalanineProline is an amino-acid. It helps moisturize the skin and plays an important role in creating proteins.
Our skin uses proline as one of the building blocks for producing collagen.
In medicine, proline is used as an osmoprotectant. This means it helps prevent oxidative degradation in other drugs.
Our bodies are able to produce proline naturally, but certain conditions may inhibit this production. In that case, proline can be obtained from eating egg whites, soy protein, dairy products, asparagus, mushrooms, and seaweed.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is an amino acid naturally found in our body. Our bodies use amino acids to create protein.
Amino-acids help give keep our skin hydrated. They play an important role in the skin barrier, which keeps the skin plump and firm.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning we don't need to obtain it from eating foods.
Learn more about SerineSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAThreonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Our skin uses threonine for creating collagen and elastin. Humans are not able to create threonine and must get it through eating foods such as fish, lentils, poultry, sesame seeds, and more.
Valine is an essential amino acid. It is used by our bodies for tissue repair and muscle growth.
An essential amino acid is one in which our bodies cannot naturally produce so we must get them through diet. Foods such as eggs, dairy, red meat, and fish contain valine.
This ingredient can either be derived from an animal product or be synthetically created.
Learn more about ValineWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water