What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Retinoate
Skin ConditioningTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCanola Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Retinoate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Canola Oil, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauroyl Lysine, Tetrahydropiperine, Polyglycerin-3, Lactic Acid, Parfum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialEthyl Lactyl Retinoate
AbrasiveGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylresorcinol, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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 ingredientâs final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideShea Butter Ethyl Esters is created from, as you might have guessed, shea butter.
According to the manufacturer, this ingredient is lighter, longer lasting, and combines well with other ingredients.
Due to the shea butter base, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Shea Butter Ethyl EstersSqualane 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, itâs 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 âoil-freeâ isnât 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 SqualaneTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl 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 Acetate