What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylcellulose
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cholesteryl Stearate
EmollientCholesteryl Nonanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningAmino Esters-1
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenyl T-Butylnitrone
Antioxidant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientPyruvic Acid
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLawsonia Inermis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPearl Powder
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lawsonia Inermis Extract
Antimicrobial
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cholesteryl Stearate, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33, Caprylyl Glycol, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Amino Esters-1, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Thioctic Acid, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Copper Gluconate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Pyruvic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Lawsonia Inermis Leaf Extract, Pearl Powder, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lawsonia Inermis Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Eugenol, Linalool, Farnesol
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
