What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Dipalmoylisopropyl Dimonium Methosulfate
Disunfloweroylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-70
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLinalool
Perfuming
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearalkonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dipalmoylisopropyl Dimonium Methosulfate, Disunfloweroylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-70, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenylpropanol, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Glyceryl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Parfum, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Citral, Dipropylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Linalool, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Panthenol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Triethyl Citrate, Limonene, Geraniol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingLaurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Flexuosus Herb Extract
Perfuming
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Herb Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilWater. 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
