What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAminobutyric Acid
Trehalose
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicDiglycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantBambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Aminobutyric Acid, Trehalose, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Pantolactone, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Diglycerin, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, Gluconolactone, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Zinc PCA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Extract
Skin ConditioningVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingHistidine
HumectantSerine
MaskingArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Alanine
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentWater, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Alcohol, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Histidine, Serine, Arginine, Proline, Threonine, Alanine, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride
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
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 GlycolCentella 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 ExtractDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the āgoodā alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 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