What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysilicone-11
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Olive Glycerides
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBHA
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-49
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tranexamic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Olive Glycerides, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Alpha-Arbutin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-12, Retinol, Micrococcus Lysate, Retinyl Palmitate, Phospholipids, Retinal, Sodium Lactate, BHT, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, BHA, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Caprylyl Glycol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-49, Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citric Acid, CI 77891
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 ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
