What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyacrylate-13
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
AbrasiveDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentKojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientPullulan
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantZein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPectin
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantWater, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Squalane, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pvp, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate-13, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Adenosine, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Pullulan, Beta-Carotene, Tromethamine, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Zein, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Pectin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningEicosapentaenoic Acid
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingDocosahexaenoic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cholesterol
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAlumina
AbrasiveC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Triisostearin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Silica, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Phytosphingosine, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Phospholipids, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sorbitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cholesterol, C14-22 Alcohols, Polyisobutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Alumina, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Triethylhexanoin, Mica, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobutenePropanediol 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