What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventIsostearic Acid
CleansingIsododecane
EmollientMethyl Dihydroabietate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingJojoba Esters
EmollientSr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propanediol, Isostearic Acid, Isododecane, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Jojoba Esters, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveMagnesium Sulfate
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyurethane-100
Isostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Olivate, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, C15-19 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triheptanoin, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Caffeine, Kojic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Polyurethane-100, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
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
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsostearic acid is a saturated fatty acid. Its structure makes it a great surfactant.
Surfactants help decrease the surface tension between two liquids. This property also makes it an effective emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent waters and oils from separating in a product.
Isostearic Acid is created from oleic acid.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Isostearic AcidMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPropanediol 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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSqualane 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