What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDicocoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mel
EmollientPropolis Cera
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dicocoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lactic Acid, Mel, Propolis Cera, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Squalane, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 15510
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Panthenol, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
