What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Schisandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, CI 77891, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polysorbate 20, Zea Mays Starch, Schisandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Isohexadecane, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mannitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Mica, CI 77288, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caffeyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCI 10020
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingRosmarinyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfate
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Silica, Squalane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caffeyl Glucoside, Carbomer, CI 10020, CI 42090, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gallyl Glucoside, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Rosmarinyl Glucoside, Sodium Sulfate, Saccharide Isomerate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
