What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Amylopectin
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Volcanic Soil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Amylopectin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil
Emollient
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Citric Acid, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Panthenol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Sorbitan Tristearate, Tocopherol
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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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
