What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-7 Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-7 Hcl, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Arnica Montana Flower
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Colloidal Silver
AntimicrobialGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin 1%
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol 1%
Preservative
Arnica Montana Flower, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, Colloidal Silver, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Maris Sal, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin 1%, Phenoxyethanol 1%
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 ButterEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidXanthan 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
