What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCeteareth-6 Olivate
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
Buffering2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Bisabolol, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hydroxide, 2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLinoleic Acid
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Linoleic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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, itâs 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 âoil-freeâ isnât 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