What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Cetearyl Olivate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Pantolactone
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Urea
Buffering
Glycine
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dibutyl Adipate, Distarch Phosphate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Arginine, Octocrylene, Panthenol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-15, Cetearyl Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Collagen Amino Acids, Lactic Acid, Pantolactone, Serine, Urea, Glycine, Glucose, Allantoin
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Diglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Glyceryl Stearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Arginine, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Squalane, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Hydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glucose, Stearic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Polyglutamic Acid
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 high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
