This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate and Sodium PCA to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Algae Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Avium Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentLauryl Glucoside
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Lauryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly Protein, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Beta-Glucan, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, 2,3-Butanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate (GFF) is a byproduct of fermenting Galactomyces yeast (the same yeast traditionally used to brew sake, Japan's beloved rice wine).
Sake brewers have long been known for their remarkably youthful hands. This is what actually first sparked scientific interest in GFF's skin benefits.
GFF works by stimulating filaggrin production in the skin. Filaggrin is a protein that binds structural proteins in the outer skin layer together to form a tight barrier that shields against allergens, bacteria, and moisture loss.
It's also a key building block of our natural moisturizing factors (NMF), or the network of compounds that keep skin plump and hydrated.
By boosting filaggrin, GFF helps strengthen both our barrier and our skin's ability to retain moisture.
Beyond hydration, GFF has notable antioxidant properties that help protect against oxidative stress and UV-induced inflammation.
Research also suggests it may help regulate sebum and keratin production. This could be an interesting option for those concerned about oiliness or skin texture.
Fungal acne:
This ingredient doesn't contain fatty acids or oils that could feed Malassezia, and the yeast used to make it (Galactomyces) is a different genera of fungi from Malassezia. The presence of one doesn't stimulate the other.
However, there is a concern raised by some communities that this ingredient could trigger a reaction in people who are broadly sensitive to yeast/fungal-derived ingredients.
Learn more about Galactomyces Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSqualane 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
