What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSphingolipids
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBetaine
HumectantHoney
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sphingolipids, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Honey, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 20, Hexylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthyl Oleate
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPhytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Betaine
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lauryl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, C12-16 Alcohols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Coco-Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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, 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s 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 PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSqualane 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 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