What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Croton Zambesicus Powder
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Beeswax, Isopropyl Myristate, Behenyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Croton Zambesicus Powder, Bacopa Monnieri Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Croton Zambesicus Powder
Polyquaternium-32
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Lippia Citriodora Leaf Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetrimonium Bromide, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Croton Zambesicus Powder, Polyquaternium-32, Paraffinum Liquidum, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopheryl 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 WaterThis ingredient is also known as lavender fever berry tree. This tree is native to Africa.
