What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C14-28 Alkyl Acid
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Raphanus Sativus Leaf Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbitaceae Extract
Skin ConditioningOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C14-28 Alkyl Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Adenosine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide NP, Trehalose, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Raphanus Sativus Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cucurbitaceae Extract, Orchid Extract, Honey Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Phytosphingosine, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-12
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Carvone
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Dimethicone, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-12, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Linalyl Acetate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Geranyl Acetate, Carvone
Alternatives
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 ButterDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
