What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingDalea Spinosa Seed Oil
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAmorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
AbrasiveCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil 0.485%
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Dalea Spinosa Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Tocopherol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil 0.485%
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPentapeptide-48
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeWater. 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