What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate
EmollientTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantPollen Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTrideceth-10
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate, Trisiloxane, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trehalose, Panthenol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Pollen Extract, Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trideceth-10, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 ButterCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolRosa Canina Fruit Oil is a non-fragrant plant oil that has earned its skincare reputation through chemistry.
It's dominated by fatty acids like linoleic acid (~35-55%), alpha-linolenic acid (~17-27%), and oleic acid (~14-22%). This is the exact profile that supports skin barrier, locks in hydration, and calms inflammation.
A 2024 review found evidence for the Rosa canina species supports its use for scarring, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and atopic dermatitis; this was mostly credited to its vitamin C content and fatty acid composition as the primary active mechanisms.
You might see this ingredient marketed as a "natural retinol". Some rosehip seed oils contains traces of all-trans-retinoic acid but these trace amounts are far below biologically active levels.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has deemed this ingredient safe and it's well-tolerated.
Fungal acne: The fatty acids of this oil fall into the C11-24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit OilTocopherol 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