What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Powder
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Acetophenone
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingCandelilla Cera
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Microcrystalline Wax, Candelilla Cera, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glucose, Fructose, Parfum, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root, Dextrin, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, 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.
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
