What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantMethylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Niacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingTulipa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientAtractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCholecalciferol
Tocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSucrose
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Betaine, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Undecane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Tulipa Hybrid Flower Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cholecalciferol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Lecithin, Tridecane, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Titanium Dioxide
Zinc Oxide 15%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide 15%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Olivate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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 TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
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.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSqualane 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 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 Water