What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Sodium Phytate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract
EmollientGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isohexadecane, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Synthetic Beeswax, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caffeine, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Phytate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Darutoside, Tocopherol, Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Pullulan
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Coumarin
Perfuming
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Pullulan, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Carbomer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol
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 ButterDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
