What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingCyclomethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventBertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cyclomethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, C15-19 Alkane, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Zea Mays Oil, Tocopherol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Zea Mays Starch, Caramel, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningBertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLinoleic Acid
CleansingSucrose
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-6
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Parfum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Dimethicone, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Linoleic Acid, Sucrose, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-6, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 19140, CI 16035, CI 40800
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil from the nuts of the Bertholletia excelsa plant. It is also commonly called the Brazil Nut. This plant is native to the Amazon Rainforest.
Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil contains antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Cetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract comes from the root commonly known as carrot (the orange kind we eat!).
This extract contains beta-carotene, a pigment responsible for giving plants the orange color. Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Beta-carotene is the reason we turn orange if we eat too many carrots.
It should be noted coming into contact with the leaves of wild carrots can cause skin irritation. The sap causes phytophotodermatitis, or sensitivity exposed to sunlight.
This ingredient is created using the edible parts of the carrot.
Learn more about Daucus Carota Sativa Root ExtractAcai oil is extracted from the pulp of the acai palm fruit. It is rich in phenolic compounds and fatty acids like oleic and palmitic acid.
Due to the presence of fatty acids, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
This plant is native to the Amazon rainforest.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is also known as cupuacu butter. It is a plant butter made from the seeds of the cupuacu fruit and has skin conditioning properties.
Like other botanic butters, cupuacu butter works by reducing moisture loss and improving skin smoothness. Some research suggests it has an unusually high ability to interact with water in lab testing, which may help explain why products containing it can feel deeply hydrating.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated. However, those with very oily or clog-prone skin might prefer it in lighter formulations or lower concentrations.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Please note: Fungal acne is not caused by pore clogging. It is caused by an overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast on the skin. This yeast feeds on certain fatty acids.
Learn more about Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed ButterTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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