What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Polysorbate 20, Zea Mays Starch, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Allantoin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Polyacrylate-13
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Glycerophosphate
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientPotassium Magnesium Aspartate
BufferingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-8, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Palmitic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beeswax, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Asiaticoside, Carbomer, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Adenosine, Ceramide AP, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Madecassoside, Citric Acid, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Sucrose Laurate, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Potassium Magnesium Aspartate, Lysolecithin, Magnesium Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, 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.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
