What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-20
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCanola Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearates, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Oligopeptide-20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Canola Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingWater
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMaris Aqua
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Pinus Sibirica Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningGigartina Stellata Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Nitrate
SoothingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmaria Palmata Extract, Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Maris Aqua, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Lecithin, Benzoic Acid, Hydrolyzed Pinus Sibirica Seedcake Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Nitrate, Xanthan Gum, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Hydrated Silica, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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
