What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Momordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aroma, Octyldodecanol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Momordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Oleic Acid, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polybutene
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Iron Oxides
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polybutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Iron Oxides
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 ButterCopernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopherol 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 TocopherolVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract comes from the vanilla orchid native to central America. It is a skin-soothing ingredient.
This ingredient is skin-soothing and contains polyphenols that give it antioxidant properties.
This ingredient is not known to sensitize or irritate skin (unlike Vanilla Tahitensis). Vanilla tahitensis has shown to irritate skin in low amounts.
Learn more about Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
