What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mentha Citrata Herb Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMagnolol
Antioxidant
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Magnolol, Honokiol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Citric Acid
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 ButterGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate
