What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingFarnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Oleate, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Phytate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Farnesol
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Zea Mays Starch, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Dimethiconol, Steareth-21, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerThis 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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
