What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Beheneth-10
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenylalanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Valine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthol
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentHistidine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Dextran
Glycine
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Beheneth-10, Squalane, Glycol Palmitate, PCA, Alanine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Valine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Xanthan Gum, Menthol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Propylene Glycol, Proline, Isoleucine, Aspartic Acid, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Sorbitol, Serine, Threonine, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Histidine, Citric Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Dextran, Glycine, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Petrolatum
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Cera Alba
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Alcohol Denat., Petrolatum, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, CI 14700, CI 19140, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Stearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Poloxamer 338, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum
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 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPentylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is the oil from the apricot.
Apricot Kernel Oil is an emollient and helps soften skin. This is due to its fatty acid components. Some of these fatty acids include linoleic and oleic acid.
This ingredient also has antioxidant properties from Vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Besides being antioxidants, these vitamins provide plenty of skin benefits as well.
Learn more about Prunus Armeniaca Kernel OilWater. 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
