What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Steareth-21
CleansingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Callus Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sorbitan Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Polysorbate 60, Saccharide Isomerate, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Steareth-21, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891, Bisabolol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, PEG-8, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture, Coleus Forskohlii Callus Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Calcium Gluconate
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sodium 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
