What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysilicone-11
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPfaffia Paniculata Root Extract
SoothingLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract
Perfuming
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, PEG-8 Beeswax, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Dimethicone, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Boron Nitride, Fructose, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Phytate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Methylpropanediol, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract, Pfaffia Paniculata Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glycolic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tridecane
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingXylitol
Humectant
Glycogen
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventGlucose
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Undecane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Sorbitol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Xylitylglucoside, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Anhydroxylitol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Propanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Xylitol, Glycogen, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Carbonate, Glucose, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis 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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
