What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rubus Villosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tribehenin, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Pentylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Melatonin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Rubus Villosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether
EmollientPEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PPG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether, PEG-5 Pentaerythrityl Ether, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Squalane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Silica Silylate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
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 ButterCitric 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 AcidHydrogenated Vegetable Oil is created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil in order to give it more stability. This process also raises the melting point of vegetable oil. In cosmetics, it is an emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
The term "Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil" is an umbrella term and can refer to a variety of vegetable oils and blends of: sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and more.
Due to the differences in vegetables, the benefits may vary.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Vegetable OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
