What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearates
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPotassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearates, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glyceryl Stearate, Zinc PCA, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C12-16 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Allantoin, Creatine, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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 ingredientâs final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSqualane 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, itâs 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 âoil-freeâ isnât 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 TocopherolWater. 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