What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Vulgaris Extract
Skin ProtectingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Arginine
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Stearate
CleansingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Lactate, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Arnica Montana Flower, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Vulgaris Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Aspartic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Panthenol, Beeswax, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Alcohol, Sodium Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Pantethine
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Usnea Barbata Extract
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTribehenin
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Silica, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pantethine, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caffeine, Usnea Barbata Extract, Yeast Extract, Folic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Biotin, Tribehenin, Myristyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Steareth-20, Dipeptide-2, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
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 ButterCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
