What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingVolcanic Ash
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Fucus Spiralis Extract
EmollientTetraselmis Chui Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Americanum Leaf Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Starch, Lactobacillus, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Volcanic Ash, Cetyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Fucus Spiralis Extract, Tetraselmis Chui Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ocimum Americanum Leaf Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Silica, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Vanillin
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Colloidal Oatmeal, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bisabolol, Vanillin, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA
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 ButterCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
