What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Nylon-12
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Glycine
CleansingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingIsobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol
MaskingMethyl Decenol
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethyl Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Nylon-12, Isostearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Glycine, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Dimethiconol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Bisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylene Brassylate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Isobutyl Methyl Tetrahydropyranol, Methyl Decenol, Caramel, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pentapeptide-76 Amide
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingSorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice
Skin ConditioningSclareolide
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyisobutene
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Myristyl Nicotinate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Adenosine, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Glycine Soja Oil, Pentapeptide-76 Amide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Sclareolide, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyisobutene, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Hydrated Silica, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pullulan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, PEG-40 Stearate, Parfum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Limonene
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 ButterCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearatePeg-40 Stearate is a waxy solid made up of polyethylene glycol and stearic acid. It is an emulsifier and cleanser. Emulsifiers help oils and water mix.
Stearic acid is a a fatty acid. Therefore, Peg-40 stearate may not be fungal-acne safe.
Water. 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
