What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoconut Alkanes
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zea Mays Starch, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 40
EmulsifyingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNylon-12
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Benzyl Cinnamate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingMethyl 2-Octynoate
PerfumingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polysorbate 40, Benzyl Benzoate, Nylon-12, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Cinnamate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Amyl Cinnamal, Eugenol, Methyl 2-Octynoate, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 14700, Citric Acid, Phospholipids, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pantothenic Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 ButterEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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