What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Mannitol, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Phytate
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Diglycerin, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium DNA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ectoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, C12-13 Alketh-9, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Glyceryl Caprylate, C12-16 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Tocopherol 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 WaterXanthan 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
