What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHoney
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Yogurt Powder
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Water, Honey, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Yogurt Powder, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Inulin, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Glyceryl Undecylenate
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzyl PCA
HumectantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sulfur, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Butyl Avocadate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Benzyl PCA, Salicylic Acid, Phytosterols, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Allantoin, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis 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 GlycerinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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
