What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Methylpropanediol
SolventDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Yeast Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Methylpropanediol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Sorbitol, Polyquaternium-80, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-4 Stearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Ormenis Multicaulis Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Mica, Polyglyceryl-4 Stearate, Silica, Isononyl Isononanoate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Acetyl Glucosamine, S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polyglutamic Acid, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Sterols, Cocos Nucifera Water, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Sucrose, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut Alkanes, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Benzoate, Lecithin, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Linalool
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 ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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
