What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientKaolin
AbrasiveHydrated Silica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Kaolin, Hydrated Silica, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Polyacrylamide
Sucrose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingParfum
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTin Oxide
AbrasiveSucrose, Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Oryza Sativa Extract, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mica, CI 77891, CI 45410, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tin Oxide
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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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 Water