What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cera Alba, Sodium Benzoate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Silica, Viola Tricolor Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPEG-8
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientNylon-12
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactitol
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, PEG-8, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Cetyl Alcohol, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactitol, Xylitol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrated Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate
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 ButterCera alba is beeswax, or the wax used by bees to make honeycombs. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient. A study from 2003 found beeswax to be a stronger emollient than ingredients such as petroleum jelly.
As an emollient, beeswax helps hydrate the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating. This helps create consistent texture.
The structure of beeswax is mainly long-chain alcohols and the esters of fatty acids.
There are three types of beeswax: yellow, white, and absolute. Yellow is pure beeswax taken from the honeycomb. White beeswax is created by filtering or bleaching yellow beeswax. Absolute beeswax is created by treating beeswax with alcohol. Beeswax used in cosmetics are purified.
Beeswax has been used throughout history and even in prehistoric times. Some common uses for beeswax still used today are making candles, as a waterproofing agent, and polish for leather.
Learn more about Cera AlbaCetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
