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 ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Tridecane
PerfumingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAlthaea Officinalis Root
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantMagnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingSqualane
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSambucus Nigra Seed Oil
Oenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Potassium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientAmber Powder
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Undecane, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Cetearyl Olivate, Tridecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root, Colloidal Oatmeal, Centella Asiatica Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Squalane, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Panthenol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sambucus Nigra Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Amber Powder, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 PropanediolSqualane 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