What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingRosa Moschata Seed Oil
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Betaine
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLactose
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningYogurt Powder
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingOlus Oil
EmollientCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingBulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Oil
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTribehenin
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbic Acid
PreservativeStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, PEG-8, Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lactose, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Yogurt Powder, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Olus Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Lactis Proteinum, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Carbomer, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Sodium Glycolate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSqualane 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 SqualaneVitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed OilWater. 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