What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Seed Oil
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Methylpropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Betaine
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFragaria Ananassa Seed Oil
AntioxidantGoat Milk
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragaria Ananassa Seed Oil, Goat Milk, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Chloride, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil is a lightweight oil from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. In cosmetics, it's an emollient that forms a light film to slow water loss and soften skin.
Its fatty acid composition is dominated by oleic acid (70-78%), with smaller amounts of behenic, palmitic, and stearic acids (this profile is actually pretty similar to olive oil).
Notably, this ingredient is oxidatively stable for an oil and resists going rancid as fast as other oils.
A small, in vivo study on 32 participants found a cream with this ingredient increased skin hydration with no reported skin irritation. It also found the tocopherol content gave it some antioxidant activity as well.
One thing to flag for fungal acne:
Because this oil is so high in oleic acid, Malassezia can use it as a food source and this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
For everyone else, this ingredient is well-tolerated and nourishing with a good safety track record.
Learn more about Moringa Oleifera Seed OilJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSqualane 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, itās 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 āoil-freeā isnāt 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