What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Callus Extracellular Vesicles
Aloe Vera Vesicles
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Threonine
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Tryptophan
MaskingAsparagine
MaskingGlutamine
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Adenosine, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Centella Asiatica Callus Extracellular Vesicles, Aloe Vera Vesicles, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 80, Propanediol, Retinol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Lysine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Cysteine, Tryptophan, Asparagine, Glutamine, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Parfum
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Juice
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Leaf Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Wood Oil
Masking
Pyrus Malus Juice, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Citrus Limon Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Citrus Limon Leaf Cell Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Wood Oil
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidXanthan 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
