What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingCarthamus Tinctorius Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Squalene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Squalane, Propanediol, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Bud Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Beta-Sitosterol, Retinyl Palmitate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Squalene, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ingredientâs final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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, 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 SqualaneTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinâs lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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