What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil, Sucrose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Silica, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Water, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Tocopherol, Glycolipids, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Sucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Colloidal Gold
AntimicrobialAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSucrose, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Wheat Amino Acids, Caramel, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Colloidal Gold, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Water, Parfum, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, CI 77891, Mica, CI 77491
Reviews
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSucrose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is the main constituent of white sugar.
In skincare, sucrose is a humectant and can be a mild exfoliant.
Sucrose is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts water. This makes it an effective humectant and helps hydrate the skin.
Studies show sugars may worsen acne-prone skin due to it disrupting the skin's natural biome. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
In some products such as body scrubs, sucrose is used as an gentle exfoliant.
The term 'sucrose' comes from the french word for sugar, 'sucre'.
Learn more about SucroseTocopherol 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 Water
