What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Quaternium-91
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientParfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-113
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTrehalose
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C13-15 Alkane, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Coconut Alkanes, Quaternium-91, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Decyl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Ether, Aspartic Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Oleate, Benzoic Acid, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Polyquaternium-113, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Quaternium-95, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Galactoarabinan, Tocopherol, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Xylitol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mel
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Algae
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicDimethyl Sulfone
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Panthenol, Mel, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Algae, Biotin, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mentha Piperita Oil
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 ButterCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
