What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 5%
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Betaine
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hectorite
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Colloidal Oatmeal 5%, Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hectorite, Carbomer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearamide Amp
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glycol Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Dimethicone, Hydroxystearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Carbomer, Stearamide Amp, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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 ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholAccording to INCI standards, this ingredient refers to the physical ground up oatmeal. If you are looking for colloidal oatmeal in skincare, you'll most likely see Avena Sativa Kernel Extract on your ingredient list.
Physical colloidal oatmeal is an abrasive meaning it provides physical exfoliation.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
