What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Algae Extract
EmollientPetrolatum
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Sesamum 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 ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glucose Oxidase
StabilisingTrehalose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Lactoperoxidase
StabilisingHydrolyzed Algin
Glyceryl Dilaurate
Emollient
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Algae Extract, Petrolatum, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Esters, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cholesterol, Steareth-10, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysilicone-11, 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, Water, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Maris Sal, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Plankton Extract, Caffeine, Glucose Oxidase, Trehalose, Sucrose, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lactoperoxidase, Hydrolyzed Algin, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Polyquaternium-51, Saccharide Isomerate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Glucose, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Parfum, Lecithin, BHT, Linalool, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
Masking
Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Escin
TonicMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-33
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silica, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Escin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-33, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Linoleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
