What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTrioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingCitrus Paradisi Juice
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
MaskingLiquidambar Styraciflua Oil
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingPiper Nigrum Seed Oil
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingViola Odorata Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Beeswax, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Phospholipids, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Citrus Paradisi Juice, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Liquidambar Styraciflua Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Piper Nigrum Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Viola Odorata Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylcellulose
Helianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Extract comes from the common sunflower.
Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E. Studies show sunflowers contain antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
The fatty acids found in sunflowers include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
These fatty acids hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus ExtractOryza Sativa Bran Extract comes from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
This ingredient has moisturizing properties due to its components of polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains calcium, selenium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract contains numerous antioxidants such as ferulic acid. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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.
Phospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe since phospholipids contain fatty acid chains in the C11-24 range that the malassezia yeast likes to feed on.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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