What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Extract
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentSucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium PCA, Sodium Phytate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Fructose, Glutamic Acid, Alanine, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Dextrin, Sucrose, Urea, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate
Onsen-Sui
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Succinate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Onsen-Sui, Glycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide AP, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Superoxide Dismutase, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Malic Acid, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium Succinate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ArginineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
