What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAlgae Extract
EmollientPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingSqualane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Bakuchiol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Linalool, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Citric Acid
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 ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolJojoba 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 OilSqualane 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, itās 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 āoil-freeā isnāt 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 SqualaneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol