What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSwertia Japonica Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Swertia Japonica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pantolactone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Arginine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Alumina
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Papain
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
PEG-75 Stearate
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Algin
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycolic Acid, Alumina, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isononyl Isononanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Lactobionic Acid, Papain, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, PEG-75 Stearate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 14700
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 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 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 GlycerinWater. 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
