What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingButyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
EmollientSqualane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Dimethicone
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Squalane, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Panthenol, Rice Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingOrmenis Multicaulis Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCanola Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Linalool, Canola Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 ingredientās 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 AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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, 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 SqualaneTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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