What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium EDTA, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPtfe
Tapioca Starch
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingMethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ascophyllum Nodosum
Skin ConditioningSus Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ptfe, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, CI 77891, Mica, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitol, Maltodextrin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ascophyllum Nodosum, Sus Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
