What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Galactoarabinan
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Tannic Acid
AstringentChlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Coco-Caprylate, Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sclerotium Gum, Allantoin, Galactoarabinan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Ubiquinone, Alcohol Denat., Citronellol, Caffeine, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Tannic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Sorbitan Tristearate, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
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 ButterDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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
