What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyquaternium-51, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Abies Sibirica Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSuccinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-20
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Arginine
Masking
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPlatycarya Strobilacea Extract
Skin ConditioningPsoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycerin, PEG-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Acer Saccharum Extract, Platycarya Strobilacea Extract, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Carbomer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic 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.
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 ArginineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 or alcohol, 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 CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinWater. 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
