What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingFructose
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylpropanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysorbate 40, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Chlorphenesin, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Fructose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9
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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateWater. 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
