What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Algae Extract
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAhnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Morus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Rna
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCoenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sorbitol
Humectant
Simethicone
Emollient
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sulfate
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Yeast Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glyceryl Stearate, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Sodium Rna, Creatine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Coenzyme A, PEG-100 Stearate, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, PEG-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Phospholipids, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sorbitol, Simethicone, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Cholesterol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Citronellol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Oligopeptide-177
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Silica, Anhydroxylitol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Alcohol, Glucose, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Alanyl Glutamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Arginine, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Lysine, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Betula Alba Oil, Disodium EDTA, Oligopeptide-177, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Ascorbate
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 TriglycerideCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 StearateHydrogenated 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 LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
