What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Arginine
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDaucus Carota Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Seed Oil
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprae Lac Extract
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCoriandrum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Steartrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caffeine, Parfum, Propylene Carbonate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Arginine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Lactate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Caprae Lac Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Propylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMilk Protein Extract
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Myristyl Alcohol, Water, Parfum, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Milk Protein Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
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.
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 preservatives
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 ArginineThis ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 GlycolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSteartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
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 Water