What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Diglycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Diglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Madecassoside, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water 10%
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingVinyldimethicone
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
C11-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polydecene
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingWater, Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water 10%, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C12-16 Alcohols, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Vinyldimethicone, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Palmitic Acid, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cellulose Gum, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Adenosine, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Polydecene, Oleic Acid, Squalane, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
Reviews
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
Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosidePolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is a plant-derived emulsifier whose only job is to keep the oily and watery parts of a formula blended so it doesn't separate into layers.
It's compatible with a wide-range of active ingredients and especially good at making emulsions survive heat/freeze cycles.
Typical use concentrations range from 2-3% and it works across a pH of 4.5-8.5.
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics and has a low irritation profile.
Because it's build on stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that falls within the range (C11-24) that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateSqualane 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 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
