What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Chloride
PreservativeHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Dipalmoylisopropyl Dimonium Methosulfate
Disunfloweroylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-70
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingSunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLauryl Lactyl Lactate
Foam BoostingPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitral
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantWater, 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
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningEquisetum 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 ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Flexuosus Herb Extract
PerfumingThymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingLecithin
EmollientCinnamal
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, 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
Reviews
Alternatives
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.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Ratings for other ingredients mostly come from a 1980s rabbit ear test. This test doesn't translate well to human skin or to real products because the ingredient sits at a much lower percentage.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin. Just know this one's based on experience and not evidence.
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 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 the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as 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.
This ingredient 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.
This ingredient does have a comedogenic rating of 0-3, but this doesn't mean a formula with this ingredient will clog pores. Human testing has proved that any finished product with a comedogenic ingredient won't automatically make you break out; it really comes down to concentration, formula, and your skin.
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