What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDextran
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent
Arginine
Masking
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Apigenin
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol, Water, Dextran, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Propanediol, Arginine, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Glycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Isomalt, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Zinc Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl PCA
HumectantEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sphinganine
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-7
Antiseborrhoeic
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Octyldodeceth-16, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Menthol, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl PCA, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sphinganine, Phosphatidylcholine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Glycine Soja Oil, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-14, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-7, Sh-Polypeptide-9
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
