What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Oleate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCyclomethicone
Emollient
Lanolin
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Decyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Borago Officinalis Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cyclomethicone, Lanolin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Palmitic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Phytic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Propanediol
Solvent
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMannose
HumectantCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propanediol, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Sorbitan Tristearate, Dimethiconol, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Chloride, Mannose, Coco-Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol 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 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
