What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citric Acid, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Silanetriol
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Butylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Caffeine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycolic Acid, Silanetriol, Ubiquinone, Pantolactone, Citric Acid
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 ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 is a plant-derived emulsifier made from stearic acid. It mainly acts as a water-in-oil emulsifier to keep formulas blended and stable.
Human Repeat Insult Patch Test showed no irritation or sensitization and a 28-day study on 51 subjects found no intolerance reactions.
Due to it being made from stearic acid, this ingredient may not be Malassezia safe.
Learn more about Methyl Glucose SesquistearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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
