What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyether-1
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantInositol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Erythritol
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Pyridinedicarboxylic Acid
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Cell Culture Powder
Skin ProtectingPterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lysimachia Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
2-Tert-Butylcyclohexanol
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Polyether-1, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Inositol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Alcohol, Erythritol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Pyridinedicarboxylic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Cell Culture Powder, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Nonapeptide-1, Lysimachia Vulgaris Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Bisabolol, Carnosine, Adenosine, Phytosteryl Oleate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Carbomer, Arginine, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Urea, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Jojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, 2-Tert-Butylcyclohexanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateSqualane 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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinâs lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 Water
