What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
AbrasiveIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Saccharin
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSqualane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyethylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Paraffin, Synthetic Wax, Mentha Piperita Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Saccharin, Limonene, Linalool, Citric Acid
Squalane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Sodium Lactate
BufferingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSqualane, Sorbitan Olivate, Water, Trihydroxystearin, Betaine, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium PCA, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Proline, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Sodium Lactate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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