What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer
MoisturisingPolysorbate 85
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer, Polysorbate 85, Allantoin, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMelatonin
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingValeriana Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSarcothalia Crispata
CleansingPropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCalcium Gluconate
HumectantParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Melatonin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Valeriana Officinalis Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sarcothalia Crispata, Propanediol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Gluconolactone, Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Myristic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylamide, Phospholipids, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Gluconate, Parfum, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 42090, CI 17200
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 ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractDimethicone 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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