What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCera Alba
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEmulsifying Wax
Cyclomethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Emulsifying Wax, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Zinc Oxide, Parfum, Sodium Polyglutamate
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 ButterGlycerin (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 Water