What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Napus Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Rubia Cordifolia Root Powder
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Distarch Phosphate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Bakuchiol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Brassica Napus Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Rubia Cordifolia Root Powder, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Parfum
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 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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 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
