What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 60, Trehalose, Anhydroxylitol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Xylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-20, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Disodium EDTA, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Glucose, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Pantolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
