What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientWine Extract
AntioxidantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-20
HumectantBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingPulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Arginine, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Squalane, Wine Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Trehalose, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-20, Bioflavonoids, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Parfum, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningButoxyethanol
MaskingArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingYeast
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butoxyethanol, Arginine, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 60, Beeswax, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Yeast, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Malt Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hexyldecanol, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineArginine 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 CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrolyzed collagen has a misleading name because it is actually a mixture of various proteins/peptides. This ingredient has skin hydrating properties.
Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.
Hydrolyzed Collagen is created by breaking up proteins into smaller peptide bonds. These peptides act as humectants and emollients.
Humectants are great at holding onto water, keeping skin hydrated. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
There is ongoing debate about whether hydrolyzed collagen works because it increases skin hydration. Skin hydration is also linked to elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen or peptide ingredients can be used in the morning or night. They will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is a great hair conditioner as well.
This ingredient can be extracted from different sources, including:
Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources. Vegan collagen would go by a different INCI name, such as hydrolyzed soy protein.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
This ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilWater. 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