What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Squalane, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Isoceteth-20, Dextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Maleic Acid
Buffering2-Tert-Butylcyclohexanol
Perfuming
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Hull
Abrasive
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Transglutaminase
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Maleic Acid, 2-Tert-Butylcyclohexanol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Squalane, Glycine Soja Hull, Zea Mays Oil, Cysteine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Transglutaminase, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Parfum, BHT
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineIsoleucine is an amino acid that helps reinforce our skin barrier. This amino acid plays a role in creating protein for the body.
Fun fact: Isoleucine is found in meat, fish, dairy, legumes, and nuts.
Phenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.
This ingredient is also used to help even out skin tone due to its ability to disrupt the melanin production process.
Two structures of phenylalanine exist: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is essential, this means our bodies cannot produce it naturally and we must get it from foods. Our bodies convert D-phenylalanine to neurotransmitters, and D-phenylalanine is found in our bodies naturally.
Some foods that contain L-phenylalanine include eggs, soybeans, beef, milk.
Learn more about PhenylalanineSqualane 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 Squalane
