What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
HumectantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDecapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningSodium Oleate
CleansingPropylene Glycol Alginate
Rice Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, C14-22 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Mannitol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Madecassoside, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Retinol, Trehalose, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, BHT, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Decapeptide-4, Sodium Oleate, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Rice Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMorus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Dna
Skin ConditioningGerotine/Hydrolyzed Dna
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingBisabolol
AntioxidantPEG-6
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
MaskingPullulan
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingRubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Dna, Gerotine/Hydrolyzed Dna, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Bisabolol, PEG-6, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Squalane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Oleic Acid, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolSqualane 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, itās 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 āoil-freeā isnāt 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 SqualaneTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum