What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOleyl Erucate
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientPropanediol
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose Distearate
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Squalane, Glycerin, Oleyl Erucate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters, Sucrose Distearate, Sucrose Stearate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tocopherol, Alcohol Denat., Xanthan Gum, Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Parfum, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCanola Oil
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientDiethylhexyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantValine
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Canola Oil, Octyldodecanol, Niacinamide, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycoproteins, Glutamic Acid, Valine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Threonine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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