What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dextran
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Caffeine, Panthenol, Arginine, Glycine, Glycoproteins, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Zinc Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metabisulfite, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZiziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Seed Oil
Sodium Chloride
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract
HumectantAorta Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sericin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Euryoides Leaf Extract
EmollientArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Aspergillus/Camellia Japonica Seed Ferment Extract Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSimethicone
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
EDTA
Laurtrimonium Chloride
Emulsifying
Hypericum Erectum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-400, Sorbitol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract, Aorta Extract, Rubus Idaeus Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sericin, Camellia Euryoides Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Honey Extract, Aspergillus/Camellia Japonica Seed Ferment Extract Filtrate, Soluble Collagen, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Simethicone, Citric Acid, EDTA, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Hypericum Erectum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
