What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientLanolin
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSarcodon Aspratus Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sucrose, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Lanolin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Water, Sorbitan Laurate, Caramel, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Sarcodon Aspratus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Sucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Talc
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSucrose, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Water, Stearyl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Talc, Parfum, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 73360, CI 77891
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 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as Macadamia Seed Oil. It's an emollient with a fatty acid profile that closely mirrors the skin's own lipid makeup.
The palmitoleic acid content is especially notable as it's somewhat rare in plant oils. Palmitoleic acid is something your skin already makes naturally. It helps keep cell membranes structured and plays a role in fighting off harmful microbes.
This palmitoleic content is also part of why macademia seed oil absorbs quickly and doesn't leave much of a greasy residue.
It also contains oleic acid, linoleic acid, and phytosterols that can help reduce redness.
In vitro research has shown the oil to have meaningful antioxidant activity, protect fats in the skin from oxidative damage, and slow down the enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.
A 2024 clinical study found it effective at improving skin hydratino and reducing wrinkle appearance when formulated into nanoemulsions.
Because it carries oleic acid (C18) and palmitic acid (C16), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the Malassezia yeast metabolizes in the C11-24 chain length range.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil .
These two oils are identical in composition and M. ternifolia is an older INCI naming convention for the edible macadamia nut while M. integrifolia is the species actually cultivated for oil production. Both names refer to the same oil.
Learn more about Macadamia Ternifolia Seed OilOenothera Biennis Oil (aka Evening Primrose Oil) is a non-fragrant oil from the evening primrose. Like other botanical oils, it is an emollient that helps hydrate and nourish skin.
It has an interesting fatty acid profile: linoleic (70-74%) and γ-linolenic (8-10%), with some amounts ofoleic palmitic, and stearic acids.
The gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is the headliner here; it's relatively rare in plant oils and acts as a precursor for anti-inflammatory signaling molecules in the skin.
There's a mixed body of clinical research with this ingredient as well, mostly on eczema/atopic dermatitis skin.
Some controlled trials showed improvement in inflammation, dryness, scaling, and overall severity. Other studies and large meta-analysis failed to show a significant effect; the honest takeaway here is "promising but inconsistent" rather than "miracle oil".
On the safety front, this ingredient is found to be safe as used in cosmetics and even has a history of safe food use.
Since this oil is contains oleic acid and palmitic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Oleic Acid sits at C18 and Palmitic acid sits at C16.
In vitro studies have shown that oleic acid and palmitic acid are some of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oenothera Biennis 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sucrose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is the main constituent of white sugar.
In skincare, sucrose is a humectant and can be a mild exfoliant.
Sucrose is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts water. This makes it an effective humectant and helps hydrate the skin.
Studies show sugars may worsen acne-prone skin due to it disrupting the skin's natural biome. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
In some products such as body scrubs, sucrose is used as an gentle exfoliant.
The term 'sucrose' comes from the french word for sugar, 'sucre'.
Learn more about SucroseWater. 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
