What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Lauroyl Lysine, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Propylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-8
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingIsostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 77891, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77492, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Squalane, Alumina, CI 77499, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-8, Panthenol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Whey Protein
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 ButterCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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