What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Betaine, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium PCA, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Squalane, Snail Secretion Filtrate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Dipropylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Fructose, Glucose, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arginine, Gluconolactone, Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract, Glucosyl Ceramide, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSqualane 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
