What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPPG-5 Tocopheryl Ether
Antioxidant
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Callus
Antimicrobial
Propolis Wax
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Ether
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, PPG-5 Tocopheryl Ether, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus, Propolis Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Ethyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Raphanus Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Raphanus Sativus Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Maltodextrin, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
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 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateXanthan 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
