What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panax Quinquefolius Root Extract
AstringentHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Pimpinella Anisum Seed Extract
AstringentCochlearia Armoracia Root Extract
MaskingSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Glycolic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Quinquefolius Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Pimpinella Anisum Seed Extract, Cochlearia Armoracia Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Carica Papaya Seed Oil
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phytic Acid
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Phytic Acid, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
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 ButterEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
