What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantRaphanus Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAbies Sibirica Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Alcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Raphanus Sativus Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Maltodextrin, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Propanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolyglycerin-6
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, 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
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinTocopherol 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