What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Bitartrate
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
BHA
Antioxidant
Quartz
Abrasive
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Glycolic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 60, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vegetable Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Oleate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Lactic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Limonene, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Potassium Bitartrate, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, BHT, Palmitic Acid, BHA, Quartz, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Algin
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaris Aqua
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Maris Aqua, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Carbomer, Tetrapeptide-21, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
