What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Paraffin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Hexyl Laurate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Persea Gratissima Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, BHT, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citric Acid
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Petrolatum
Emollient
Aroma
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Octyldodecanol, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Aroma, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Jojoba Esters, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyglycerin-3, Phytosterols, Silica, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateThis 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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima Oil
