What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Betaine
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSerine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Plankton Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Trehalose, Arginine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adenosine, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Fructooligosaccharides, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Beta-Glucan, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Serine, Alanine, Proline, Sea Water, Sodium Phosphate, Madecassoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingSerine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentGellan Gum
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Alanine, Arginine, Sodium Glutamate, Serine, Proline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Gellan Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinProline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in 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.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineWater. 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
