What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Squalane, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocotrienols, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Riboflavin
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hectorite
AbsorbentAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Sucrose Polystearate, Stearic Acid, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Viola Tricolor Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Alcohol, Hectorite, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Citral
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 ButterCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract comes from the common Marigold plant part of the Asteraceae family. This ingredient is a skin conditioner.
Marigolds contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.
This ingredient soothes skin inflammation by inhibiting inhibiting a part of the inflammation process.
Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, itâs technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term âoil-freeâ isnât regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
