What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, CI 42090, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Octyldodecanol, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Tropolone, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPtfe
Tapioca Starch
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingMethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ascophyllum Nodosum
Skin ConditioningSus Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ptfe, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, CI 77891, Mica, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitol, Maltodextrin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ascophyllum Nodosum, Sus Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 ButterCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Sodium 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 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
