What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Canola Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Palmitamide Mea
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Rhamnose
HumectantGlucose
Humectant
Glucuronic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Canola Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitamide Mea, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xylitol, Zinc Gluconate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus, Propanediol, Rhamnose, Glucose, Glucuronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA
C8-12 Acid Triglyceride
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientGlycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aesculus Turbinata Bark
Skin ConditioningC8-12 Acid Triglyceride, Isohexadecane, Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Allantoin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aesculus Turbinata Bark
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis 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 ButterGlyceryl 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 StearateMagnesium Aluminum Silicate is a type of silica. It comes from naturally occuring minerals such as silicate ores and clay.
Magnesium aluminum silicate is used for enhancing texture and as an absorbent. Due to its large molecular size, it is unable to be absorbed into the skin.
Like other types of silica, this ingredient can be used to thicken a product. As an absorbent, it may be used to absorb extra water or help prevent clumping.
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Magnesium Aluminum SilicatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Sodium 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 AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
