What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentAcetyl Hydroxyproline
EmollientUbiquinone
Antioxidant
1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alcohol Denat., Cocoglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Distarch Phosphate, Acetyl Hydroxyproline, Ubiquinone, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Creatine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentStearic Acid
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Punica Granatum Extract, Stearic Acid, Caffeine, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, PEG-100 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ubiquinone, CI 77891
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 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 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 HydroxideUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneWater. 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
