What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPantolactone
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicArginine
Masking
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Propanediol
Solvent
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Magnesium Chloride
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Extract
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Beta-Glucan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Cyanocobalamin, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Pantolactone, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Trehalose, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Arginine, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Propanediol, Pyridoxine Hcl, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Chloride, Yeast Extract, Carbomer, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sasanqua Extract
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide 5%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Arginine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Cyanocobalamin, Betaine Salicylate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Tranexamic Acid, Gluconolactone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sasanqua Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Oligopeptide-2, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerCyanocobalamin is the manufactured version of vitamin B12. It has skin soothing, antioxidant, and barrier protecting properties. Topical cyanocobalamin is used to treat skin irritation and atopic dermatitis.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateWater. 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
