What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingKaolin
Abrasive
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentOlive Oil PEG-8 Esters
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-39
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Sulfate
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ultramarines
Water
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Coconut Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Glycolic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Kaolin, Laureth-4, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Olive Oil PEG-8 Esters, Paraffin, Polyquaternium-39, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Silica, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Sulfate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ultramarines, Water
Glycerin
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Pumice
Abrasive
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phytic Acid
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCharcoal Powder
Abrasive
Mannitol
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Glycerin, Sucrose, Pumice, Lactic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Water, Mandelic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Isethionate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Coconut Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Charcoal Powder, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Maltodextrin
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 ButterCoconut acid is a mixture of fatty acids obtains by hydrolyzing coconut oil and then distilling the fatty acid portion. It works as a cleansing surfactant, emollient, and emulsifier depending on the formulation.
This ingredient is not a single compound but reflects the fatty acid profile of coconut oil itself, which is about 90% saturated.
The dominant fatty acid is lauric acid (44-54%) and then myristic acid (13-19%). There are also small amounts of caprylic, capric, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
Human testing from CIR has shown no indication this ingredient to be a primary irritant, sensitizer, or phototoxic compound. It's COSMOS-approved for natural and organic products.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Research has confirmed Malassezia can use lauric acid as a food source.
Learn more about Coconut AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolMicrocrystalline Cellulose is another name for refined wood pulp. It is used as an emulsifier and mattifying ingredient. As an emulsifier, it helps keep ingredients together.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopheryl 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
