What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlycine
BufferingLeucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingTin Oxide
AbrasiveZinc Aspartate
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Alanine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingAlginic Acid
Skin ConditioningDisodium Guanylate
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Triethylhexanoin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauroyl Lysine, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Tribehenin, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Methicone, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Hydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carnosine, Taurine, Glycerin, Lysine Hcl, Polyquaternium-61, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Leucine, Histidine Hcl, Serine, Valine, Tin Oxide, Zinc Aspartate, Threonine, Alanine, Isoleucine, Allantoin, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Proline, Tyrosine, Alginic Acid, Disodium Guanylate, Talc, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantErythritol
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPEG-32
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-38
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingThreonine
Serine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrogenated Lard
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Erythritol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, PEG-32, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-38, Valine, Threonine, Serine, Leucine, Proline, Histidine, Glycine, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine Hcl, Carnosine, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyquaternium-61, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lard, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
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 GlycolCarnosine is a dipeptide made from two amino acids.
This ingredient helps:
Glycation is the process of sugars binding to and damaging proteins. Too much sugar in our skin can lead to damaged collagen, contributing to factors of aging.
Carnosine is water-soluble and is not able to travel deeper layers of skin. This leads to some doubt about whether it can boost collagen in skin, since collagen is located in the deeper layers of skin.
Fun fact: Carnosine can be naturally found in our muscles and brain.
Learn more about CarnosineGlycerin (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.
We don't have a description for Leucine yet.
Lysine HCl is an alpha amino acid salt.
Our skin uses amino acids as a precursor for building protein, and therefore keratins, collagen and elastin.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-61 yet.
Proline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine 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 SerineThreonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Our skin uses threonine for creating collagen and elastin. Humans are not able to create threonine and must get it through eating foods such as fish, lentils, poultry, sesame seeds, and more.
Valine is an essential amino acid. It is used by our bodies for tissue repair and muscle growth.
An essential amino acid is one in which our bodies cannot naturally produce so we must get them through diet. Foods such as eggs, dairy, red meat, and fish contain valine.
This ingredient can either be derived from an animal product or be synthetically created.
Learn more about ValineWater. 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