What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sea Water
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C15-19 Alkane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sea Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus, Gluconolactone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantUndecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Tridecane
Perfuming
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantLecithin
Emollient
Algae Extract
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Squalane, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Sea Water, Undecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Tridecane, Ectoin, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Anisate, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Oil, Mica, Lecithin, Algae Extract, Silica, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
