What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Arginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Disiloxane, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantothenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningLippia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Propolis Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA
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 ArginineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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