What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Lactobacillus Ferment, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzophenone-4, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 15985, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientTricaprylin
PerfumingHexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPetrolatum
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Behenyl Alcohol, Tricaprylin, Hexyldecyl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, CI 15985
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 ButterCi 15985 is a dye made from petroleum. It is synthetically created and approved by the FDA for use in foods and cosmetics.
The color of this dye is orange/yellow.
This ingredient can be found in makeup, sun care, and skincare.
Learn more about CI 15985CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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