What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningKunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Cocos Nucifera Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Epilobium Angustifolium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Algae Extract
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethoxydiglycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Water, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Phospholipids, Epilobium Angustifolium Leaf Extract, Sphingolipids, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Malachite Extract, Glucose, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Algae Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract
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 GlycerinLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract comes from the Goji Berry. Goji berries are native to China and can be found across Eurasia.
Goji berries contain polysaccharides, carotenoids and flavonoids. Antioxidants help your body fight off free-radical molecules. These molecules are unstable and may damage your skin. By making free-radicals more stable, antioxidants can help with anti-aging.
Polysaccharides help hydrate the top layer of skin due to its ability to mimic natural carbohydrates.
Learn more about Lycium Barbarum Fruit ExtractJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract is from the Kakadu plum. The Kakadu plum is native to northern Australia. The Kakadu plum holds the record for having the highest amount of natural vitamin C.
This ingredient is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals and thus may reduce the signs of aging.
The high vitamin C content of Kakadu plum also helps lighten skin. Vitamin C has been shown to block the process of skin darkening that leads to hyperpigmentation.
Kakadu plums have been used by indigenous cultures as medicine to help treat colds and as an antiseptic.
Learn more about Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit ExtractTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
