What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBrassica Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Esters
EmollientParfum
MaskingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAcanthus Mollis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSaccharina Longicruris Extract
HumectantAcyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialIsododecane
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingBrassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Brassica Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Parfum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Keratin Amino Acids, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract, Acanthus Mollis Leaf Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharina Longicruris Extract, Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isododecane, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC21-28 Alkane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctafluoropentyl Methacrylate
Glyceryl Triacetyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Grapeseedamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingChitosan
Hydroxyethyl Diethylenetriamine Dioleamide/Palmitamide
Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate
Skin ConditioningMethylthiopropylamido Acetyl Methionine
Skin ProtectingLauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Stearate
EmollientLinoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingCetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, C21-28 Alkane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate, Glyceryl Triacetyl Hydroxystearate, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Grapeseedamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Squalane, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Chitosan, Hydroxyethyl Diethylenetriamine Dioleamide/Palmitamide, Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate, Methylthiopropylamido Acetyl Methionine, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Stearate, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium PCA, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideHelianthus 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 OilParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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