What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Propanediol, Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Glucose, Sodium Anisate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantUndecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Tridecane
Perfuming
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantLecithin
Emollient
Algae Extract
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Squalane, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Sea Water, Undecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Tridecane, Ectoin, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Anisate, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Oil, Mica, Lecithin, Algae Extract, Silica, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed 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.
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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.聽
It鈥檚 often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Anisate comes from fennel. It is used as a preservative and to add flavoring.
Sodium Anisate has antimicrobial properties.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. Oncedissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical. It is usually derived from renewable plant sources like corn starch or sugarcane.
In skincare, it mostly acts as a skin conditioning agent that keeps skin soft and hydrated. It also acts as a preservative booster by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
It's often paired with Sodium Anisate as the two create a broad-spectrum preservative system that is popular in "natural" formulations.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be non-irritated and there are no restrictions for use in EU cosmetics. The FDA also allows this ingredient to be used as a food-grade flavoring agent.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateTocopherol 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
