What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isocetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Betaine, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isocetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Retinol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Phytate, Limonene, Linalool
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 ButterCetyl 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 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 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
