What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDextran
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Beta-Glucan, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Lactate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dextran, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Sterols
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingArginine
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantBoswellia Serrata Gum
MaskingSaccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingBehenic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Boron Nitride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Punica Granatum Sterols, Ceramide EOP, Oligopeptide-1, Tripeptide-29, Bisabolol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arginine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, PCA, Citric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine, Alanine, Micrococcus Lysate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Serine, Valine, Cholesterol, Sodium Benzoate, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Behenic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isostearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Aspartic Acid, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateSqualane 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 Water