What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitol
Humectant
Diospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sanicula Europaea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingBalanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mitracarpus Scaber Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Tromethamine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Silica, Sorbitol, Diospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Sanicula Europaea Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Mitracarpus Scaber Extract, Citric Acid, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, CI 15985, Potassium Sorbate, Maris Sal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Stearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Ubiquinone, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
