What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Water, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hexapeptide-2, Biotin, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Macadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Jojoba Esters, Microcrystalline Wax, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceresin, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Polyethylene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ozokerite, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate, Bisabolol, Trihydroxystearin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tocopherol, Water, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract is extract from the neem plant.
The leaves of this tree contain flavonoids and polyphenols. These two compounds are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Further research is needed as to their effects when applied on skin.
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds of Moringa oleifera plant. It is more commonly known as Moringa seed oil.
Moringa seeds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin hydrating properties. These seeds are rich in oils, proteins, monounsaturated fats, and tocopherols.
As an emollient, moringa seed oil helps trap moisture in the skin by creating a film on top. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Many compounds in moringa seed oil are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. These compounds include Vitamin E. , catechins, ferulic acid, and more.
Another compound found in Moringa seed oil is oleic acid.
Moringa trees are native to the Himalayan mountains.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Moringa Oleifera Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilWater. 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
