What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dodecane
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Propanediol
Solvent
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Brassica Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dioctyldodecyl Dodecanedioate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Styrene/Butadiene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Quaternium-87
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tbhq
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dodecane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Brassica Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Dioctyldodecyl Dodecanedioate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ethyl Oleate, Parfum, Styrene/Butadiene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Quaternium-87, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Propylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Sclerotium Gum, Arginine, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Succinic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citral, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Tbhq, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vinegar
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentNiacin
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Vinegar, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Niacin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Yeast Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Parfum
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 a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 ButterThis 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 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 GlycerinParfum 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 “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” 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 ParfumWater. 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
