What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Lanolin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Paraffin
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Urea, Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Decyl Oleate, PEG-20 Stearate, Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Parfum
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Sodium Stearate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Magnesium Sulfate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol, Water, Urea, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Laurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis 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 ButterPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 AcetateUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
