What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-75
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Tuna Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-75 Stearate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-75, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyquaternium-51, Tuna Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Arginine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Milk Protein Extract
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Water, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, C14-22 Alcohols, Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Arachidyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Glucose, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Milk Protein Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Betula Alba Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
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 ArginineBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePolysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Tocopherol 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
