What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSodium Phytate
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantMalachite Extract
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLauryl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAzulene
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlutathione
Oligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Phytate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Malachite Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Lauryl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Azulene, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Glutathione, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-75 Stearate
Polyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDichlorobenzyl Alcohol
Antimicrobial2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cetyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycolic Acid, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-75 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Laureth-7, Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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