What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCamphor
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingMyristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Acetate
MaskingMethylbenzyl Acetate
MaskingIonone
AstringentGamma-Undecalactone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Camphor, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Madecassoside, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenethyl Acetate, Methylbenzyl Acetate, Ionone, Gamma-Undecalactone, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningBetula Pendula Sap
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArthrospira Platensis Extract
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20 Phosphate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Betula Pendula Sap, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Arthrospira Platensis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid
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 ingredientâs 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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 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 SqualaneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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