What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextran
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Betula Alba Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Oligopeptide-177
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Lecithin, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Citric Acid, Dextran, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Ceramide Ng, Glycine, Lysine, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Betula Alba Oil, Disodium EDTA, Oligopeptide-177, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Tetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Canola Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Retinyl Retinoate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydropiperine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
