What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Acetophenone
MaskingHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Zea Mays Starch, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Acetophenone, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Squalane, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Mannitol, Lactic Acid, Chlorphenesin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
