What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 23.8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide 3.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Sea Water
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbityl Laurate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 23.8%, Titanium Dioxide 3.4%, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C9-12 Alkane, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Propanediol, Sea Water, Silica, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbityl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingSea Salt
Abrasive
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Stearyl Phosphate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Sea Salt, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Stearyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
