What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cerium Oxide
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Acrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer
Vinyldimethicone
Urea
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Cell Culture Powder
Skin ProtectingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentJojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lysimachia Vulgaris Extract
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Zinc Silicate
Magnesium Oxide
AbsorbentPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Hexyldecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Erythritol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bisabolol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cerium Oxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glyceryl Glucoside, Acrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer, Vinyldimethicone, Urea, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ectoin, Carnosine, Inositol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Squalane, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Collagen, Nonapeptide-1, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Adenosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Cell Culture Powder, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Jojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Octanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Lysimachia Vulgaris Extract, Parfum, Zinc Silicate, Magnesium Oxide, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Phospholipids
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 PanthenolPentylene 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 GlycolSodium 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
