What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingVitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Water, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Anisate, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Geraniol, Eugenol, Citronellol, Linalool, Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Xylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHarungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingUlex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Squalane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Sucrose Palmitate, Xylitylglucoside, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Anhydroxylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Glyceryl Linoleate, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, Carbomer, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Tocopherol, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Pectin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Ulex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, CI 14700, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol (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
