What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
EmollientAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Piper Cubeba Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Melanin
Skin ProtectingSucrose
Humectant
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingTapioca Starch
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tromethamine
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthophylls, Astaxanthin, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Polygonum Aviculare Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Piper Cubeba Fruit Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Melanin, Sucrose, Lysolecithin, Tapioca Starch, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tromethamine, Triethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Collagen
Moisturising
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Bakuchiol, Caffeine, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Retinol, Collagen, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol
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 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
