What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 1%
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Mannose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingParaffin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Colloidal Oatmeal 1%, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Dimethiconol, Mannose, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Capryloyl Glycine, Microcrystalline Wax, Sorbitan Tristearate, Paraffin, Disodium EDTA, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHoney
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Aroma
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Honey, Stearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate, Tapioca Starch, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Aroma, Xanthan Gum, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aminomethyl Propanol, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Panthenol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Calcium Gluconate, Tocopherol
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
