What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Water, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Parfum, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Myristate
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberSodium PCA
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantZea Mays Starch, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Mica, Magnesium Myristate, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Chlorphenesin, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Sodium PCA, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Squalane, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, CI 16035, CI 75470
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Squalane 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 SqualaneSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
