This calming treatment is formulated around Squalane and Bisabolol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.

Facial Treatment
Serum
Canadian Canada
Canadian Canada

What's inside

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

Water

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Isodecyl Neopentanoate

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Coconut Derived IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning
Good for Barrier Repair Icon

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Hexyldecanol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Bisabolol

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Scar Healing IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Rosmarinyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Caffeyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Gallyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone

Skin Conditioning

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Masking
Synthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Superoxide Dismutase

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps brighten skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

PCA

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Arginine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alanine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Serine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Valine

Masking

Isoleucine

Skin Conditioning

Proline

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Threonine

Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Histidine

Humectant
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Phenylalanine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Aspartic Acid

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Lactate

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Mirabilis Jalapa Callus Extract

Skin Protecting

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Isochrysis Galbana Extract

Skin Conditioning

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dextran

Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isoceteth-20

Emulsifying

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Barrier Repair Icon

Propyl Gallate

Antioxidant
Synthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconAntioxidant IconMay cause irritation Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Dehydroacetic Acid

Preservative
Preservative Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Benzyl Alcohol

Perfuming
Alcohol IconSynthetic Fragrance IconFragrance IconPreservative IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Reviews

4.40
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
What people say
Works Well 60% Hydrating 60% Light 60%
3.09
Overall rating
5
4
3
2
1
What people say
Great Value 33% Irritating 28% Works Well 25%

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Emulsifying, Surfactant

Isoceteth-20 comes from Isocetyl Alcohol. It is an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Learn more about Phenoxyethanol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

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