What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Butyl Ether
HumectantMilk Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acrylic Acid
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonic Acid
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trimethylpyrazine
Perfuming
Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Paraben
Preservative
Arbutin, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Diglycerin, Propylene Glycol Butyl Ether, Milk Ferment, Glycine Soja Extract, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Acrylic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trimethylpyrazine, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, Glycol Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Paraben
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Collagen
Moisturising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Water, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Squalane, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Collagen, Cetearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pyrus Malus Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Stearic Acid, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Arginine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Taurine, Ornithine, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinSqualane 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 SqualaneStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
