What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Benzyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triisostearin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Jojoba Esters, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Squalane, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Benzyl Nicotinate, Ectoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Trehalose, Bisabolol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Triisostearin, Glycerin, Glucomannan, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sucrose Cocoate, Trihydroxystearin, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Water, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientDi-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Lauryl Lactate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Stevioside
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aroma
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Lauryl Lactate, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Stevioside, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitatePalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
This ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateSqualane 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, itās 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 āoil-freeā isnāt 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 SqualaneTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin
