What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract 74%
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract 74%, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arginine, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Borago Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sucrose Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Linalool
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 ArginineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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 PropanediolWater. 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
