What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Akebia Quinata Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Microcrystalline Wax, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Adenosine, Ceresin, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Bisabolol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 73360, CI 77742, Blue 1 Lake, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Sodium Dna, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Akebia Quinata Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Carnosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Yeast Beta-Glucan
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Tridecapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tribehenin
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Vanillin
Masking
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Glyceryl Behenate, Synthetic Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tridecapeptide-1, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Sucrose Cocoate, Vanillin, CI 15850
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 TriglycerideDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
