What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract 86%
Skin ConditioningPropanediol 4%
SolventGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract 2%
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract 1%
CleansingTrehalose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingArginine
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract 86%, Propanediol 4%, Glycerin, Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract 2%, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract 1%, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Xanthan Gum, P-Anisic Acid, Arginine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Prunus Mume Fruit Water 66.8%
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract 6%
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract 5.3%
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientArginine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Mume Fruit Water 66.8%, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract 6%, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract 5.3%, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Water, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Reviews
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 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum