What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Extract 98%
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Maxima Extract
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingWater
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Houttuynia Cordata Extract 98%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Spirulina Maxima Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylene Glycol, Malt Extract, Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningRhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Levan
Skin ProtectingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Allantoin, Yeast Ferment Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Levan, Beta-Glucan
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 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 CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
