What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Mannitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hectorite
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Squalane, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Retinal, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Mannitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylamide
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Laureth-7, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Mica, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Phytosphingosine, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Parfum, Tocopherol, CI 77491
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 ButterDimethyl Isosorbide is a low-irritation solvent that helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from glucose.
Research shows how well this ingredient works depends on the active and formulation rather than the concentration alone. This means adding more Dimethyl Isosorbide does not guarantee better penetration of ingredients into the skin.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
