What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Alanine
Masking
Maltose
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lidocaine Hcl
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Alanine, Maltose, Glycine, Allantoin, Lidocaine Hcl, Arginine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Tropolone, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Trehalose, Betaine, Urea, Fructose, Glucose, PCA, Sodium PCA, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Glucose, Squalane, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Gluconolactone, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ArginineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
