What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Polyisobutene
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaris Aqua
HumectantTetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Parfum, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Maris Aqua, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Glucose, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSqualane 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
