What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Mononucleotide
AntioxidantEctoin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Water, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Phosphatidylcholine, Glycolipids, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Ectoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Rosinate
PerfumingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCandelilla Cera
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPortulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingBrassica Alba Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Glyceryl Rosinate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Candelilla Cera, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Trihydroxystearin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sucrose Cocoate, Brassica Alba Sprout Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glucomannan
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol