What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Gum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSucrose
HumectantUrea
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, 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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHexyldecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentBisabolol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propanediol, Hexyldecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Triolein, Maltodextrin, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCitric 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 AcidMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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, 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 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