What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Bisabolol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Egg Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Nonanoate
EmollientCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Potassium Olivoyl/Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Umbilical Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-9 Citrulline
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
Masking
Water, Snail Egg Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Potassium Olivoyl/Lauroyl Wheat Amino Acids, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Umbilical Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33, Retinol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lysine Hcl, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tripeptide-9 Citrulline, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Fructose, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTThis 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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
