What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Zea Mays Starch, Betaine, Squalane, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Inulin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Panthenol, Phenylpropanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTetradecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexadecene
SolventTetrasodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Tetradecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Hexadecene, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Parfum
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 ButterCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
