What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate-13
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tocopherol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethyl Citrate comes from citric acid. It has masking, perfuming, and solvent properties. As a solvent, this ingredient helps disperse ingredients evenly in skincare.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient can:
According to perfume manufacturers, this ingredient is almost odorless but has a mild fruity, wine and plum scent. It can be used to mask the scent of other ingredients.
This ingredient can be plant-sourced or synthetic; it can naturally be found in cabbage and white wine.
Learn more about Triethyl CitrateWater. 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
