What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Bentonite
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Lanolin Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lanolin Cera
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cera Alba
Emollient
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
PEG-40 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Potassium Stearate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Nylon-10/10
Laurtrimonium Chloride
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Vp/Va Copolymer, Bentonite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lanolin Cera, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cera Alba, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Tribehenin, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrated Silica, Pvp, Diheptyl Succinate, Benzophenone-4, Isopropyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Nylon-10/10, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingPetrolatum
Emollient
Lanolin Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Lanolin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Vp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Petrolatum, Lanolin Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, PEG-75 Lanolin, Glycerin, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Propanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, CI 15985, Mica, CI 77891, Tin Oxide, CI 16035, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Citronellol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
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 AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinA complex combination of organic alcohols obtained by the hydrolysis of lanolin and is classified as a fatty alcohol.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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
