What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialArginine
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingMelatonin
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphate Buffered Saline
SolventWithania Somnifera Seed Extract
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Alcohol, Arginine, Phospholipids, Lactic Acid, Melatonin, Potassium Sorbate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phosphate Buffered Saline, Withania Somnifera Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingArginine
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingPCA
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Oil
Serine
MaskingMenthol
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantValine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPhenylpropanol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Copper Tripeptide-1, Caffeine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Hyaluronic Acid, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Biotin, Glycine, Alanine, Mentha Piperita Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Serine, Menthol, Tocopherol, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Copper Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Phenylpropanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 ArginineGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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