What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Parfum
Masking
CI 18965
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Tocopherol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Silica, Glucose, Sodium Chloride, Tromethamine, Sodium Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Parfum, CI 18965, CI 14720
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Laurate
EmollientHexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientShorea Robusta Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Picea Abies Wood Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Silica, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Shorea Robusta Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Methylpropanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, C12-16 Alcohols, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Behenyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, CI 77891, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lauryl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Phenylpropanol, Picea Abies Wood Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, CI 77491, Biosaccharide Gum-4
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a plant-based surfactant and emulsifier. It helps oil and water based ingredients mix evenly to improve formula stability without adding a "greasy" feel.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract is from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenylpropanol is a fragrance.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
