What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSageretia Thea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingTurnera Diffusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLeucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenylalanine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingTaurine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantOrnithine
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Panthenol, Arginine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Sageretia Thea Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Turnera Diffusa Leaf Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leucine, Citric Acid, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Methionine, Proline, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Biotin, Valine, Serine, Taurine, Histidine, Ornithine
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantArginine
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVinegar Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlutamine
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingCysteine Hcl
AntioxidantCitrulline
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningOrnithine
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
CleansingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingHydrolyzed Roe
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Milk
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantTrideceth-10
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingAlcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Betaine, Arginine, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vinegar Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Lysine Hcl, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cysteine Hcl, Citrulline, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine Hcl, Ornithine, Carnitine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Panthenol, Phenylalanine, Proline, Menthol, Hydrolyzed Roe, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydrolyzed Milk, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Histidine Hcl, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Thiamine Hcl, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Parfum, Sodium PCA, Trideceth-10, Lactic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salicylic Acid
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
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin.
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 ArginineAspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.
Our body uses Aspartic Acid to help build collagen and elastin. It also plays a role in hydrating skin.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinButylene 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 GlycolGlutamic Acid is an amino acid that is found in all living organisms. Our bodies use this to help nerve cells in the brain communicate with other cells.
In cosmetics, glutamic acid is a famous humectant. It draws water from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated (like hyaluronic acid).
An in-vitro study from 2024 found glutamic acid to play a role in inhibiting inflammation and thus a potential skin-soothing ingredient.
Other studies show it to be have potential wound healing, skin barrier repair, and hair growth properties.
Glutamic acid has poor solubility in water and other solvents.
Learn more about Glutamic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if 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.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Isoleucine is an amino acid that helps reinforce our skin barrier. This amino acid plays a role in creating protein for the body.
Fun fact: Isoleucine is found in meat, fish, dairy, legumes, and nuts.
Leucine is a small amino acid and one of the building blocks your body uses to make proteins.
It's also naturally found in your skin as part of your Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF). Your NMF is a mix of water-binding molecules that keeps the outer skin layer hydrated and flexible.
In skincare, it's mainly used as a skin conditioning ingredient that helps reinforce the same moisture-retention function.
You'll usually see it used at low percentages (generally under 5%) which is in line with how amino acids are used in cosmetics.
Learn more about LeucineMethionine is a natural amino acid your skin already uses to make proteins and gluthatione (one of the body's key defense molecules against environmental stress like sun + pollution).
Its sulfur content makes it especially reactive with the free radicals that damage skin, giving it genuine antioxidant properties.
Usage percentages are usually under 1%, and usually as part of an amino acid mix designed to mimic what's naturally in skin.
One study used a combination of essential amino acids at 0.2% with supplemental methionine added and found significantly boosted collagen production in human skin.
Cosmetic industry reviewers have looked closely at methionine and other amino acids and found them well tolerated. Methionine is actually used as a "negative control" in lab tests designed to spot irritating ingredients because it doesn't cause a reaction.
Learn more about MethionineWe don't have a description for Ornithine yet.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolPhenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.
This ingredient is also used to help even out skin tone due to its ability to disrupt the melanin production process.
Two structures of phenylalanine exist: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is essential, this means our bodies cannot produce it naturally and we must get it from foods. Our bodies convert D-phenylalanine to neurotransmitters, and D-phenylalanine is found in our bodies naturally.
Some foods that contain L-phenylalanine include eggs, soybeans, beef, milk.
Learn more about PhenylalanineProline is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can make it on its own. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning ingredient that keeps skin soft and hydrated.
It makes up about 23% of the collagen molecule (collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm) and is involved in your skin's natural hyaluronic acid production. When applied topically, proline can penetrate the skin fairly well due to its small molecular size.
Reviews of this ingredient have found it to be neither a dermal irritant nor a sensitizer.
Fun fact: Proline can be found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Learn more about ProlineSerine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in 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.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
Learn more about SerineSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateValine is one of the essential amino acids (meaning your body can't make it on its own and has to get it from food).
In skincare, it's usually synthetically-made or pulled from plant proteins like soy.
It's one of the small building blocks that make up your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the built-in system that helps skin hold onto water. So its main job in a formula is to give the skin gentle hydration and help it feel more comfortable.
Typical amounts are very tiny: roughly 0.00004%-0.5% in leave on products and up to 1% in rinse-off ones.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has looked at this ingredient and found no evidence of it being a skin irritant or allergen at cosmetic levels.
Learn more about Valine