What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingHydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, PEG-75 Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Chlorphenesin
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
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 ButterCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Propanediol Dicaprylate yet.
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 Water
