What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Styrene
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer 2%
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Homosalate 4%
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene 4%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 2%
UV Absorber
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Steareth-21
CleansingPeucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicRubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Acrylates Copolymer
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinseed Acid
CleansingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Styrene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer 2%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate 4%, Octocrylene 4%, Benzophenone-3 2%, Hexylresorcinol, Steareth-21, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Laurate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Linseed Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Collagen
Moisturising
Squalane
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Collagen, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Hexapeptide-9, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Saccharomyces Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
