What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientPolybutene
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Aroma
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Diisostearyl Malate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Aroma, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Laureth-23
Cleansing
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientC18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Collagen, Retinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Adenosine, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Laurate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Laureth-23, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, Phenoxyethanol
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 ButterPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Jojoba 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
