What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Squalane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Synthetic Beeswax, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arginine
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Snail Secretion Filtrate, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Ethyl Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Arginine, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Adenosine, Water, Myristic Acid
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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
