What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Tripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSuccinic Acid
BufferingArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Steareth-21
CleansingDimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 52015
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Tripeptide-32, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Succinic Acid, Artemia Extract, Squalane, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Faex Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Sorbitol, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Maltodextrin, Steareth-21, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Steareth-2, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, CI 14700, CI 52015
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Methylparaben
Preservative
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Tribehenin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sucrose Cocoate, Methylparaben, Laureth-7, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylparaben, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-94, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-95
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
