What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil Stearate
Skin ConditioningMilk Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSoy Protein Phthalate
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDimethiconol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Stearate, Milk Ferment, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Soy Protein Phthalate, Retinol, Soy Isoflavones, Retinyl Palmitate, Ceramide Ng, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Ascorbate, Arginine, Carbomer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dimethiconol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyssopus Officinalis Extract
Masking3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Adenosine, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Pyridoxine, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glycosphingolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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