What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTricaprylin
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Squalane
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Tribehenin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingGamma-Nonalactone
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Methyl Anthranilate
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tricaprylin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Betaine, Tribehenin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, Ceramide NP, Punica Granatum Sterols, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Isostearic Acid, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Gamma-Nonalactone, Vanillin, Methyl Anthranilate, Linalool, Citral, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lanolin
Emollient
Carrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Beeswax, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limonene, Viola Tricolor Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lanolin, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral
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 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
