What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingSorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering3-Aminopropane Sulfonic Acid
Calcium Hydroxymethionine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDextran
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Allantoin, Sorbitan Laurate, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, 3-Aminopropane Sulfonic Acid, Calcium Hydroxymethionine, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Carbomer, Dextran
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
C8-9 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningImidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cyclomethicone, Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylamide, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, C8-9 Isoparaffin, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Squalene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Imidazolidinyl Urea
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearatePeg-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.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 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
