What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters, Glycerin, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrichilia Emetica Seed Butter
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHoney
HumectantFicus Carica Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cetyl Alcohol, Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Honey, Ficus Carica Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzoic 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 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 GlycerinParfum 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 a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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