What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Canola Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPolyquaternium-37
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-98
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Acetamide Mea
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Dihydrogenated Tallow Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Canola Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Ceteareth-20, Polyquaternium-37, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Quaternium-98, Steareth-2, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Dihydrogenated Tallow Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDistearyldimonium Chloride
Glycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilThis ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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
