What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Squalane, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Propanediol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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 ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSqualane 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
