What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tryptophan
MaskingThreonine
Taurine
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantOligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingSodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 80, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Cysteine, Hyaluronic Acid, Urea, Tryptophan, Threonine, Taurine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Proline, Panthenol, Ornithine, Methionine, Leucine, Histidine, Glycine, Citrulline, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Sodium Benzoate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Hexapeptide-9, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Nonapeptide-1, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Potassium Hyaluronate, Thiamine Hcl, Sodium Dna, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Beta-Carotene
Water
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycine
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Histidine
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium PCA
Humectant
Calcium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Nitrate
SoothingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Serine, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Glycine, PCA, Urea, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glucose, Histidine, Lysine Hcl, Glutamine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Phenylalanine, Sodium Chloride, Potassium PCA, Calcium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
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 ArginineAspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.
Our body uses Aspartic Acid to help build collagen and elastin. It also plays a role in hydrating skin.
Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinGlycine 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.
Histidine is a semi-essential amino acid used by our bodies to create protein. It has humectant and skin conditioning properties.
Our bodies use histidine to create filaggrin - filaggrin is a structural protein that the skin uses in maintaining skin barrier.
One study found histidine and carnosine to be a dynamic duo for your skin:
Oral histidine has also been found to help with filaggrin-deficit skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis.
Why is it considered a semi-essential amino acid? This is because adults are able to create it but children must get it from their diet.
Learn more about HistidineWe don't have a description for Leucine yet.
Serine 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 SerineUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
