What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Threonine
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Lysine Hcl, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Sorbitol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol
Onsen-Sui
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Betaine
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Threonine
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingProline
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Onsen-Sui, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Betaine, Serine, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Glutamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Natto Gum, Threonine, Lysolecithin, Proline, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Water, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 ArginineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolGlutamic Acid is an amino acid that is found in all living organisms. Our bodies use this to help nerve cells in the brain communicate with other cells.
In cosmetics, glutamic acid is a famous humectant. It draws water from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated (like hyaluronic acid).
An in-vitro study from 2024 found glutamic acid to play a role in inhibiting inflammation and thus a potential skin-soothing ingredient.
Other studies show it to be have potential wound healing, skin barrier repair, and hair growth properties.
Glutamic acid has poor solubility in water and other solvents.
Learn more about Glutamic AcidGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if 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.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Proline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in 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.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineSodium 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 PCASorbitol 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 SorbitolThreonine 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.
Water. 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
