What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDimethiconol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Dimethiconol, Citric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polysorbate 60, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Canola Oil
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Protease
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Trehalose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Canola Oil, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Protease, Caprylyl Glycol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Carotene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amodimethicone, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutathione, Ferulic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Gluconolactone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl
Reviews
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidGlycerin (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 is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateSqualane 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 SqualaneWater. 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
