What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Arginine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Polyglutamate, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Aniba Rosodora Wood Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Water, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bromelain, Retinyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Sorbic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine, PCA, Alanine, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Serine, Valine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Isoleucine, Proline, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aniba Rosodora Wood Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract is from the Roman Chamomile flower. It helps soothe the skin and contains antioxidants.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
