What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Beeswax, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Candelilla Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Jojoba Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter, Water, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Sorbic Acid, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Citric Acid
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 ButterOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
