What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolybutene
Olus Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Nylon-12
Camellia Kissi Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin Conditioning
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingParfum
Masking
Trihydroxypalmitamidohydroxypropyl Myristyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alumina
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Olus Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Glycerin, Synthetic Wax, Nylon-12, Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum, Trihydroxypalmitamidohydroxypropyl Myristyl Ether, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Alumina, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica, Citric Acid, CI 77891
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether
EmollientPEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether, PEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Squalane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Silica Silylate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric 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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
