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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Phycosaccharide Ac
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Callus Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Isethionate
CleansingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Saccharide Isomerate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium PCA, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Beta-Glucan, Phycosaccharide Ac, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Maltodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Decyl Glucoside, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Callus Extract, Hibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Isethionate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinTocopherol 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
