What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Beeswax, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Fuscoporia Obliqua Sclerotium Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Essential Oils
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Fuscoporia Obliqua Sclerotium Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ergothioneine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Dimethicone, Squalane, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Linoleic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Phytosterols, Maltodextrin, Tocotrienols, Squalene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Essential Oils, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Squalane is one of the main components of skin surface lipids. It is naturally found in our skin and makes up about 13% of sebum.
Topically, it is an emollient and skin conditioning agent.
Research highlights its role in antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, skin barrier protection, and wound healing support.
In vivo research has shown that transepidermal water loss (TEWL) caused by irritant exposure can be reverse with squalene supplementation (pointing to barrier recovery support).
Its antioxidant activity is backed by ex vivo and cell-based evidence showing it can scavenge free radicals but large-scale human clinical trials isolating this effect remain limited.
One study found squalene regulated proinflammatory behavior in ways relevant to wound healing, and in vitro fibroblast studies also shows it stimulates cell migration which is a key step in skin repair.
There's just one nuance to know about this ingredient:
Squalene is particularly vulnerable to oxidation; it breaks down from UV exposure 10x faster than the other lipids on your skin's surface. The byproducts of that breakdown can clog pores and trigger inflammation, potentially worsening acne.
This is why squalene is often hydrogenated into its stable counterpart: squalane (with an "a"). Most great formulations will have alreadu kept this in mind.
Squalene has shown no significant clinical evidence of sensitization and is a great hydrating ingredient.
Learn more about SqualeneTocopherol 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 Water
