What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Parfum, Dimethicone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Citral, Caramel, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Artemisia Pallens Herb Oil
Perfuming
Cistus Ladaniferus Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Xanthan Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Artemisia Pallens Herb Oil, Cistus Ladaniferus Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Water, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
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.
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 GlycerinMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil is the fixed oil obtained from Macadamia nut native to Australia. Due to its similarity with our skin's natural oils, macadamia oil absorbs easily without feeling greasy.
Macadamia seed oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid (45-75%), palmitoleic acid (7-33%), and palmitic acid (6-12%). They also contain various B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.
Palmitoleic acid helps calm inflammation and supports wound healing while oleic acid helps hydrate the skin.
Due to the high amounts of palmitic and oleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. These are fatty acids that Malassezia yeast can feed on (C11-C24 chain length). If you're prone to fungal acne, this one's probably not for you.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil . This is the same ingredient; M. ternifolia is an older INCI naming convention for the edible macadamia nut, while M. integrifolia is the species actually cultivated for oil production. Both names refer to the same oil.
Learn more about Macadamia Ternifolia Seed OilParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
