What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Betaine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Carbomer, Arginine, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Oil
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Achillea Millefolium Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Boswellia Serrata Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Bisabolol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
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 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 StearateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilTocopheryl 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
