What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTropolone
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, 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, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Tropolone, Limonene, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Levulinic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
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 GlycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
