What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTropolone
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Tropolone, Limonene, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
MaskingHelichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSucrose Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Myristyl Alcohol, Corn Starch Modified, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sucrose Palmitate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glyceryl Linoleate, Octyldodecanol, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Citral, Limonene
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum