What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 5%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyurethane-79
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
2-Methylbutyric Acid
Perfuming
Barosma Betulina Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Benzaldehyde
Masking
Dimethylhydroxy Furanone
MaskingTrans-2-Hexenal
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Stevioside
MaskingGamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Vanillin
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyurethane-79, Polyester-7, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, 2-Methylbutyric Acid, Barosma Betulina Leaf Oil, Benzaldehyde, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Trans-2-Hexenal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethyl Acetate, Stevioside, Gamma-Undecalactone, Vanillin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citric Acid
Zinc Oxide 8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Zinc Oxide 8%, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Bisabolol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Glyceryl Undecylenate
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilTocopherol 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
