What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethyl Macadamiate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Jojoba Esters, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gum, Polyglycerin-3, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Malic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
PEG-8 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Acetate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Sodium Ascorbate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthophylls, Zea Mays Starch, Glucose, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Parfum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Butylene Glycol, Caramel, Cellulose, Sodium Acetate, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol
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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
