What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Calcium PCA
HumectantMagnesium PCA
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantPotassium PCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Riboflavin Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Canola Oil, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Silica, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Potassium PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Folic Acid, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Cyanocobalamin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Dipeptide-10
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceramide NP, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glucose, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ButterThis 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 ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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