What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera
MaskingSucrose
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Seed Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Vitis Vinifera, Sucrose, Paeonia Suffruticosa Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Dimethiconol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Parfum, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-37, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiglycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPinellia Ternata Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
MaskingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentIsostearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Fatty Acid Ester
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Diglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Glycolipids, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Pinellia Ternata Tuber Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Isostearic Acid, Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, BHT
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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 ingredientâs final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSqualane 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, itâs 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 âoil-freeâ isnât 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 SqualaneTocopherol 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