What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Triisostearin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Simethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Pantothenate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUrea
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Lactate
BufferingPapain
Skin Conditioning
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Potassium Lactate
BufferingProline
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Magnesium Chloride
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantTriisostearin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Dextrin Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Parfum, Squalane, Simethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Calcium Pantothenate, Xanthan Gum, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Lactate, Papain, Soluble Collagen, Potassium Lactate, Proline, Alanine, Serine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, CI 77891, CI 77492
Polyisobutene
Petrolatum
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Vinegar
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSargassum Fusiforme Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene, Petrolatum, Diisostearyl Malate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Vinegar, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Microcrystalline Wax, Sargassum Fusiforme Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
