What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentGlycine
BufferingVeronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Glycine, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-27
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide-78
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Octapeptide-24
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAnhydroxylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTeprenone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Teprenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
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 ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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