What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZiziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Seed Oil
Sodium Chloride
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentAverrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract
HumectantAorta Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSericin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Euryoides Leaf Extract
EmollientArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantAspergillus/Camellia Japonica Seed Ferment Extract Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSimethicone
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEDTA
Laurtrimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingHypericum Erectum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-400, Sorbitol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract, Aorta Extract, Rubus Idaeus Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sericin, Camellia Euryoides Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Honey Extract, Aspergillus/Camellia Japonica Seed Ferment Extract Filtrate, Soluble Collagen, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Simethicone, Citric Acid, EDTA, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Hypericum Erectum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingEthyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlutamic Acid
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientThreonine
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Proline
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentSoluble Collagen
HumectantPropylparaben
PreservativeBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Betaine, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium PCA, Sorbitol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Ethyl Ester Of Hydrolyzed Silk, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Serine, Morus Alba Root Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Glycine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glutamic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Threonine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Proline, Royal Jelly Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Soluble Collagen, Propylparaben, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Reviews
Alternatives
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 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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.
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract is from Rosehip. Rosehips are a fruit from a wild rose bush native to Eurasia and Africa.
Rosehip contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, fatty acids and linolenic acids that hydrate skin. Having hydrated skin helps reduce the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles.
Vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants and may help with anti-aging. The fatty acids are emollients that help soften and hydrate your skin.
Another potent vitamin found in rosehip is Vitamin A, or retinol. Retinol encourages collagen production in the skin.
Rosehip extract may help with brightening the skin. Several components, such as beta-carotene, are able to reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit ExtractSoluble collagen comes from animals and fish. It has a large molecule size, meaning it doesn't get absorbed into skin.
Instead, it sits on top of skin as a humectant to improve skin hydration. It has incredible water-binding properties and creates a water barrier on skin that prevents evaporation.
This ingredient is incredibly gentle and often used to counter more irritating ingredients.
While our skin does have collagen, this ingredient is not used by the skin for anti-aging. Applying collagen topically has not been linked to helping with collagen loss in skin. All the benefits of soluble collagen are related to hydration.
Fun fact: The name "soluble collagen" refers to its ability to dissolve in water.
Learn more about Soluble CollagenSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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