What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingCera Alba
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Cera Alba, Cetyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Steareth-10, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Parfum
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Behenate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Stearyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Silica Silylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 2,3-Butanediol, Citric Acid
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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 ButterGlyceryl 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 StearateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic Acid
