What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantPyrus Pyrifolia Fruit Extract
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Pseudonarcissus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Pyrus Pyrifolia Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Silica, Tocopherol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Narcissus Pseudonarcissus Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-14 Alketh-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 17200, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Iron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mica, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Silybum Marianum Extract, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerDipropylene 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 ‘good’ 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2 yet.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
