What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Behenate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingAroma
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Water, Behenyl Behenate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Aroma
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Trihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningSoybean Glycerides
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAroma
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Behenate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantStevia Rebaudiana Extract
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Trihydroxystearin, Soybean Glycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Water, Aroma, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Behenyl Behenate, Glycerin, Stevia Rebaudiana Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, Iron Oxides, Tocopherol, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaWe don't have a description for Behenyl Behenate yet.
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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