What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-20 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Potassium Chloride
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Calcium Chloride
AstringentZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Inositol
Humectant
Calcium Pantothenate
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Alanine
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicMethionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Glucuronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Thiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Parfum, CI 77891, Silica, Sucrose Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-20 Castor Oil, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Glucose, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Linoleate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Potassium Chloride, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Calcium Chloride, Zea Mays Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Citric Acid, Inositol, Calcium Pantothenate, Retinol, Sodium Phosphate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Soluble Collagen, Potassium Sorbate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Alanine, Dehydroacetic Acid, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Biotin, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopherol, Coenzyme A, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Glucuronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Thiamine Diphosphate, CI 17200, Retinyl Acetate, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentapeptide-48
Skin Conditioning
Water, 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.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButylene 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 ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl 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 Water
