What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
SolventPEG-6 Stearate
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Cera
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantIsoniacinamide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHesperetin Laurate
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Escin
TonicCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantKigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
AbrasiveEquisetum Giganteum Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Propanediol, PEG-6 Stearate, Squalane, Mica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octyldodecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Silica, Caffeine, CI 77492, Isoniacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hesperetin Laurate, CI 77491, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Escin, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tin Oxide, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentSiloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMenthyl Lactate
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Caffeine, Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeinePropanediol 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 PropanediolSqualane 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