What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Perfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantVitis Vinifera Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Pentylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Perfluorodecalin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Milk Protein, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Darutoside, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Lactose, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Water, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Propylene Glycol, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 188, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Caffeine, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Palmitic Acid, Alumina, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
