What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tapioca Starch
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil
Masking
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf Extract
RefreshingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Tapioca Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Linalool, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Punica Granatum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-37
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyquaternium-37, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lauryl Glucoside, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Dimethiconol, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Trideceth-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 ButterCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis 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 OilPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
