What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTin Oxide
AbrasiveCholesterol
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Geraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSolanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Niacinamide, Triisostearin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, C14-22 Alcohols, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ceramide NP, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Triethylhexanoin, Polysorbate 60, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Phospholipids, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Cholesterol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phytosphingosine, Disodium EDTA, Geraniol, Limonene, Solanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantTricaprylin
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyurethane-15
Betaine
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPolyisobutene
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingTin Oxide
AbrasiveSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingSodium Glucuronate
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Myrtus Communis Oil
MaskingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingFerula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Tricaprylin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Polyurethane-15, Betaine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Polyisobutene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Mica, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tin Oxide, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Sodium Glucuronate, Magnesium Sulfate, Myrtus Communis Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77491
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
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLimonene 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 LinaloolSqualane 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 SqualaneSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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