What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Amyl Cinnamal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, Citric Acid, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, CI 14700, CI 19140
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
