What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Bentonite
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingTrimethoxybenzyl Acetylsinapate
BleachingDiacetyl Boldine
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Squalane, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysilicone-11, Bentonite, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Sodium Anisate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Trimethoxybenzyl Acetylsinapate, Diacetyl Boldine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Triisostearin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPantolactone
HumectantTrisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocoglycerides, Distarch Phosphate, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Triisostearin, Citric Acid, Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum, Pantolactone, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Palmitate is a wax-like substance.
It comes from palmitic acid and palmityl alcohol. Cetyl Palmitate may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne.
This ingredient is naturally found in the guava fruit and stony corals.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateCocoglycerides is made from the mono, di and triglycerides of coconut oil. It is an emollient and emulsifer.
Emollients are a type of moisturizer. They create a thin film on top of the skin. This film prevents moisture from escaping, keeping the skin hydrated.
Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating. Examples of this include oils and water, which naturally do not mix. Emulsifiers helps elongate the shelf life of a product. They also help the product stay consistent in texture.
Learn more about CocoglyceridesGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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