What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Glycine Soja Oil, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-37
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingC9-12 Alkane
SolventTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
EmollientLanolin Oil
EmollientStearalkonium Chloride
PreservativeAcrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingTbhq
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-150 Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, C9-12 Alkane, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Lanolin Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tbhq, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, CI 19140, CI 17200
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 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilParfum 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 ParfumTocopherol 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