What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingKojic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialResorcinol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningKhaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Diheptyl Succinate, Coco-Caprylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Kojic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Resveratrol, Hexylresorcinol, Resorcinol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Maltodextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Stearate Se
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolyisobutene
Alcohol
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPropanediol
SolventTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
CleansingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Glycol Stearate Se, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate-13, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Polyisobutene, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Myristic Acid, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Natto Gum, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol 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 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