What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningCandelilla Cera
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingTribehenin
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyisobutene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Candelilla Cera, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Ceresin, Tribehenin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Water, Dehydroacetic Acid
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveSucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentPrunus Avium Seed Oil
EmollientMalpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStevioside
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Synthetic Beeswax, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Dimethicone, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77220, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Synthetic Wax, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tribehenin, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stevioside, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dehydroacetic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 ButterDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilThis 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 OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin