What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearic Acid, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Bisabolol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
