What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Betaine, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Allantoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Carbomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Trehalose, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinArginine 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 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
