What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Squalane, Snail Secretion Filtrate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Dipropylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Fructose, Glucose, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arginine, Gluconolactone, Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract, Glucosyl Ceramide, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Silica
Abrasive
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Arginine, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tranexamic Acid, Silica, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Butylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Physalis Angulata Extract, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Squalane, Sodium Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Glucose, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, BHT, BHA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ArginineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucosePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSqualane 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 SqualaneTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
