What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientSoymilk Isoflavones
AntioxidantRhizopus/Soybean Ferment Extract Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Alcohol, Squalane, Soymilk Isoflavones, Rhizopus/Soybean Ferment Extract Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Carbomer, Cyclodextrin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Protein, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Beeswax, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSoymilk Isoflavones
AntioxidantMilk Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingSucrose Laurate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Betaine, Soymilk Isoflavones, Milk Ferment, Ceramide Ng, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Cyclodextrin, Phytosterols, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyquaternium-51, Methyl Gluceth-10, Sucrose Laurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 CarbomerCyclodextrins are ring-shaped sugar molecules made from starch. It is used to stabilize, protect, and slowly release active ingredients.
This ingredient can help prevent oxidation, reduce irritation from strong actives, and make certain ingredients absorb better once applied.
Once applied to your skin, enzymes gradually break down the cyclodextrin "ring"; this releases the active ingredient in a controlled way.
Learn more about CyclodextrinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Soymilk Isoflavones is an antioxidant.
Water. 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