What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isopropyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingTalc
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Caprylate, Glycine Soja Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Talc, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Sodium Anisate, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Sodium Citrate, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a texture enhancer and emollient. It is an ester of isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
Palmitates are emollients. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier that traps moisture in.
When added to cosmetics, Isopropyl Palmitate creates a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Isopropyl Palmitate may not be fungal acne safe. It can worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Parfum 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 “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Water