What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingCryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconic Acid
Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Succinic Acid, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Glycerin, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Olivate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Malachite Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Gluconic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Rapa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Brassica Oleracea Gongylodes Extract
Antioxidant
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tripeptide-74 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-3 Amide
Humectant
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-1 Amide
Humectant
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Phytate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Panthenol, Betaine, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Brassica Rapa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gongylodes Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tripeptide-74 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-3 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-1 Amide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Dextrin, Sodium Phytate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 ArginineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
