What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantNicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningNicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Serine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Acetyl Glutamine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Xanthan Gum, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 ArginineArginine/Lysine Polypeptide is a peptide.
Butylene 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 GlycolCopper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient known for its ability to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.
It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.
While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.
Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.
Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.
Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.
For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.
After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.
While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Copper Tripeptide-1Sodium 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 Water