What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide 10%
Smoothing
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSqualane 5%
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Caffeine 1%
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester
Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide 10%, Oryza Sativa Extract, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Squalane 5%, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Caffeine 1%, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Vp/Polycarbamyl Polyglycol Ester, Hydrolyzed Sesame Protein Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Gluconate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Squalane 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 Squalane
