What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Raspberry Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Canola Oil
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Kojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Raspberry Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Canola Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Persea Gratissima Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Kojic Dipalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Caprylyl Methicone, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Polybutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides
Skin ConditioningC15-23 Alkane
SolventSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Aroma
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, C15-23 Alkane, Sorbitan Olivate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aroma, 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 ButterEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateThis 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 OilSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Like other plant butters, Cacao seed butter is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture in, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Cacao seed butter contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules by stabilizing them. Unstable free-radicals may cause damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter can be bad for acne prone skin.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao Seed ButterTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium Dioxide
