What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Solum Diatomeae
Abrasive
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Epilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Algin
Water, Alumina, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Solum Diatomeae, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Algin
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
Abrasive
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Pumice, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol
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 ButterDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
