What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Petrolatum
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantFragaria Ananassa Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAroma
Bisabolol
AntioxidantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSucralose
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecanol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Hydroxide
AbsorbentStearic Acid
CleansingCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingPetrolatum, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Juice, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Squalane, Glycerin, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aroma, Bisabolol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sucralose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Tin Oxide, CI 19140, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, CI 77491, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, BHT, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Trideceth-9
Octyldodecanol
EmollientHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCera Alba
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningAroma
Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Water, Aroma
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaThis 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 ButterHelianthus 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 OilOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol