What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-75 Stearate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycogen
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Ceteth-20
CleansingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Citronellol
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-75 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Glycogen, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Ceteth-20, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Steareth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Linalool, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Citronellol, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Limonene, Coumarin, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Geraniol, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Manganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Mannose
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcetylated Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Zea Mays Starch, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Zinc Gluconate, Madecassoside, Manganese Gluconate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Mannose, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactobacillus, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide
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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
