What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Egg Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Nonanoate
EmollientCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Potassium Olivoyl/Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Umbilical Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-9 Citrulline
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Snail Egg Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Potassium Olivoyl/Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Umbilical Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33, Retinol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lysine Hcl, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tripeptide-9 Citrulline, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Fructose, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSucrose Stearate
EmollientCollagen
Moisturising
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cera Alba, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sucrose Stearate, Collagen, Tripeptide-29, Lactic Acid, Magnesium PCA, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Coconut Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
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 StearateTocopherol 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
