What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingMethyl Glucose Dioleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyquaternium-39
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbitol, Triethylhexanoin, Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Gluconolactone, Zea Mays Starch, Lauryl Glucoside, Calcium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyquaternium-39, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Myristyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Urea, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Canola Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Carbomer, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Arginine, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myrtus Communis Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
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 ArginineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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
