What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Bisabolol, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTrametes Versicolor Extract
Polyquaternium-37
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Nonanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Polyquaternium-37, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Linoleic Acid, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 ButterCetearyl 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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
