What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Raphanus Sativus Sprout Extract
Antioxidant
Lens Culinaris Seed Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Raphanus Sativus Sprout Extract, Lens Culinaris Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Squalane, Phospholipids, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLauryl Pyrrolidone
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Brassica Alcohol, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Maltodextrin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Coconut Alcohol, Vegetable Oil, Squalane
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSqualane 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 SqualaneTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
