What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningYogurt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Oil
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativePhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Lactis Proteinum, Yogurt Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vegetable Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCollagen
MoisturisingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantInulin
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Jojoba Esters, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Myristyl Myristate, Squalane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Inulin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, 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.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is also known as chicory root extract.
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract comes from the watermelon. Watermelon has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Watermelons are rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and lycopene. It also contains sugars and amino acids, such as arginine and glutathione.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. Besides helping to protect your skin against free-radical molecules, it also helps soothe the skin. Lycopene gives watermelon the distinct red color.
Learn more about Citrullus Lanatus Fruit ExtractCurcuma Longa Root Extract is from the spice, turmeric. Besides being a healthy and delicious spice, turmeric also has plenty of skincare benefits. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties.
Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant. Antioxidants help neutralize unstable free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules may damage your skin's cells and DNA. Curcumin may help with anti-aging.
Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe skin and reduce irritation. On top of that, curcumin has been shown to help prevent hyperpigmentation from sun damage.
The anti-microbial property of turmeric can make it effective in treating acne. This property has also been shown to help regulate the production of sebum.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydrolyzed Rice Protein is protein extracted from rice. This ingredient is rich in antioxidants and peptides.
Studies show this ingredient may help with blocking the melanin creation process when skin is exposed to UV.
We don't have a description for Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract yet.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCASqualane 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 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 AcetateThis extract comes from the blueberry native to North America. It has great antioxidant and skin soothing properties.
The antioxidant properties from blueberries come from its polyphenolic and vitamin C content. Polyphenols are a compound famous for their antioxidant properties and are commonly found in fruits.
A 2023 study found blueberries to protect skin from UV-B related inflammation. However, this ingredient should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit ExtractWater. 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