What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Squalane
EmollientCetyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantCocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
CleansingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveAndrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract
AstringentCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Hybrida Extract
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenylpropanol
MaskingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diheptyl Succinate, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Cetyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Extract, Triheptanoin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylpropanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantFructose
HumectantAlgin
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Triisostearin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Inulin, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hexapeptide-11, Tapioca Starch, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Fructose, Algin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthophylls, Hyaluronic Acid, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Maltodextrin, Citronellol, Geraniol
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 ButterCarthamus tinctorius seed oil comes from safflower, one of humanity's oldest crops.
Safflower seed oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. It also contains Vitamin E. These three components are effective moisturizers.
Vitamin E helps nourish your skin's lipid barrier. It is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage your skin cells.
Due to its high fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Thoughout history, safflower has been used for dying fabrics and in food as a saffron substitute.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilCitric 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 AcidGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilMyristyl Myristate is created from the fatty acids of myristyl alcohol and myristic acid. In skincare, it is an emollient and texture enhancer.
On its own, this ingredient has a comedogenicity index of 5/5. This means it has the potential to clog pores. When diluted with cetyl alcohol or propylene glycol, the comedogenicity will decrease.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Nutmeg, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil all contain this ingredient naturally.
Learn more about Myristyl MyristateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 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