What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingMethylpropanediol
SolventBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPelargonium Capitatum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenylpropanol
MaskingLauric Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningJasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pelargonium Capitatum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ceteareth-20, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Phenylpropanol, Lauric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingAniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
AstringentViola Odorata Oil
MaskingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triethanolamine, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Viola Odorata Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Parfum
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 AlcoholCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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