What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Bidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningNephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Steareth-20
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Biotin, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Chrysin, Citric Acid, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Punica Granatum Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Steareth-20, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsododecane
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Hexanediol
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isododecane, Betaine, Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Soluble Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateWater. 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
