This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZingiber Officinale Water
MaskingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Zingiber Officinale Water, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Phenoxyethanol
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingTocopherol
AntioxidantAminoethylphosphinic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Squalane, C15-19 Alkane, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Citrate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Aminoethylphosphinic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Butylene Glycol, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is more commonly known as IPMP or Isopropyl Methylphenol. It is a preservative and has antimicrobial properties.
According to the EPA, this ingredient is allowed for use in cleansers, creams, powders, bath products, toothpaste, perfume, and more.
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is a plant-derived, oil-soluble emulsifier. It keeps water-in-oil emulsions stable to prevent the ingredients from separating.
On the safety front, it's considered non-irritating and well-tolerated (it can even be found in formulations for baby skin).
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because research has shown that the Malassezia species can grow in the presence of fatty acid esters with chain lengths above C12 (and this one is C18).
While it does have a comedogenic rating of 4, the comedogenic rating scale was developed from rabbit ear models which has limited clinical relevance to human skin. Studies also show that comedogenic ingredients cannot predict how the overall formula will behave on human skin.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearateSqualane 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 SqualaneStearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 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