What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Petrolatum
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingTriisostearyl Citrate
EmollientC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Tribehenin
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPetrolatum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triisostearyl Citrate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Squalane, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Parfum, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Polyisobutene
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberOctyldodecanol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantPolyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octocrylene, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Paraffinum Liquidum, CI 15850, CI 77491, CI 15985
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 ButterCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol