What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyacrylamide, Propylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Laureth-7, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBetula Alba Juice
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Undecane
EmollientXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ceteth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Steareth-20
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Urea
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Betula Alba Juice, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Undecane, Xylitylglucoside, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Anhydroxylitol, Trehalose, Tridecane, Urea, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum
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 ButterPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
