What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingGlycereth-6 Tricocoate
EmollientPaeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking2-Aminobutanol
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Triheptanoin, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dicaprylyl Ether, Squalane, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, 4-Butylresorcinol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycereth-6 Tricocoate, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, 2-Aminobutanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentLecithin
EmollientLysolecithin
EmulsifyingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhytic Acid
Water, Triheptanoin, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclodextrin, Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Tranexamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytic Acid
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.
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 preservatives
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherPropanediol 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 SqualaneTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWe don't have a description for Triheptanoin yet.
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