What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Linoleic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Polyglycerin-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventStearyl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C15-19 Alkane, Stearyl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateThis 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 GlycerinHelianthus 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 OilPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidTocopherol 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
