What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Isodecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Tyrosine
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSteareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingUrea
Buffering
PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Dimethyl Isosorbide, C10-18 Triglycerides, Isodecyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethyl Mea, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Tetrapeptide-21, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tyrosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Ceramide Ng, Fructose, Allantoin, Trehalose, Maltose, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Steareth-20, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Tribehenin, Coco-Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Urea, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene
Calendula Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChlamydomonas Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem
HumectantPyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMyrica Cerifera Fruit Wax
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Calendula Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Chlamydomonas Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax, Cetyl Palmitate, Sclerotium Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Maltodextrin
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 GlycerinSodium 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
