This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Rosa Damascena Flower Water to brighten dull-looking skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingTrideceth-10
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingParfum
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSilica
AbrasiveCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentTin Oxide
AbrasiveLactobionic Acid
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, CI 77891, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethiconol, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Trideceth-10, Adenosine, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Silica, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Lactobionic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Bark/Sap Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantYeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMyrtus Communis Extract
AstringentTropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Beeswax, Sorbitan Stearate, Cellulose Gum, Ceramide NP, Paeonia Lactiflora Bark/Sap Extract, Parfum, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Octyldodecanol, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Myrtus Communis Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Ratings for other ingredients mostly come from a 1980s rabbit ear test. This test doesn't translate well to human skin or to real products because the ingredient sits at a much lower percentage.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin. Just know this one's based on experience and not evidence.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateWater. 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