What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Telmesteine
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Capryloyl Glycine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, DMDM Hydantoin, Vitis Vinifera, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propyl Gallate, Telmesteine, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
