What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel Forming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Potassium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicProline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Silica, Sucrose Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Stearalkonium Hectorite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Chloride, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Adenosine, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Levulinic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Glucose, Tocopherol, P-Anisic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Sodium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Biotin, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Coenzyme A, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isocetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Betaine, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isocetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateSqualane 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 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
