What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingUbiquinone
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBorago Officinalis Extract
EmollientHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ubiquinone, Glycine Soja Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Borago Officinalis Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
Urea
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingMenthol
MaskingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientPolyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPectin
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-4
HumectantSodium Paraben
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantSodium Acetate
BufferingGlycine
BufferingAlternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate