What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Olivate
Propanediol
SolventSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelatonin
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHeterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract
MaskingJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
MaskingCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingSpilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientUbiquinone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Melatonin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Heterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Phospholipids, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, P-Anisic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Urea, Lactic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Squalane, Retinol, Triethyl Citrate, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 20, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Ceramide NP, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 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