What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPentapeptide-59
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pine Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPrunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Pentapeptide-59, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Pine Bark Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningLaureth-9
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextran
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Laureth-9, Citric Acid, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol
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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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