What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosphingosine, Squalane, Polyglutamic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Arginine, Methionine, Cysteine, Palmitic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Squalane
Emollient
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Coenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diheptyl Succinate, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Stearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Squalane, Tripeptide-29, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycolic Acid, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Maltodextrin, Lecithin, Bakuchiol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ceramide Ng, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSqualane 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
