What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBentonite
AbsorbentSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitrus Latifolia Peel Oil
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Saccharide Isomerate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Myristyl Myristate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprae Lac
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprae Lac, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 GlycerinWater. 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