What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Olivate
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Stearate Se, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Olivate, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Cellulose Gum, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Glucose, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, BHT, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Equisetum Giganteum Extract
Skin ConditioningKigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Palm Acid
Cellulose
Absorbent
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Talc, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Vegetable Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Mannitol, Arginine, Stearyl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ozokerite, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 77891, CI 77492
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
