What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Manganese PCA, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 15985, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Lactic 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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Propanediol 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
