What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingNigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Biotin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Alcohol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingIpomoea Batatas Tuber Extract
Antioxidant
Acer Saccharum Sap
HumectantCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, Pvp, Ipomoea Batatas Tuber Extract, Acer Saccharum Sap, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Silk Amino Acids, Ethyl Macadamiate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 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.
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 ButterEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus 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 OilThough this ingredient might sound like a juicy fruit extract, it's actually the fat pressed from the mango seed kernel (or the pit). In skincare, it behaves more like shea butter and cocoa butter than like a plant active.
The fatty acid makeup of mango seed butter makes it special; it's typically rich in stearic acid and oleic acid, with small amounts of palmitic and linoleic acid. This combo helps it melt on skin, feel creamy, and leave behind a protective "seal" that slows down water loss.
It also contains a small amount of "extras" like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which are often used to support skin soothing.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Mangifera Indica Seed ButterParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
