What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Glycerin
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualene
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientOrchid Extract
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carrageenan, Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Yeast Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Orchid Extract, Titanium Dioxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingSilt
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantSaccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCamphor
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeMalic Acid
BufferingPhytic Acid
Tartaric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearic Acid, Silt, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Gluconolactone, Sorbitan Olivate, Zinc Oxide, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Camphor, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Mentha Piperita Oil, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Dehydroacetic Acid, Malic Acid, Phytic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
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 GlycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 Water