What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingAlpinia Galanga Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSilanetriol
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMethylpropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zea Mays Starch, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Alpinia Galanga Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silanetriol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPantolactone
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glyceryl Laurate, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pantolactone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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