What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientBetaphycus Gelatinum Extract
BleachingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCamellia Sinensis Leaf, Glycerin, Propanediol, Water, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Betaphycus Gelatinum Extract, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Dimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingKojic Acid
AntioxidantDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Kojic Acid, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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.
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, 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