What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPoncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Olivate
Dimethiconol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
AntimicrobialDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Leaf Extract
AntioxidantZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPlantago Asiatica Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingVelvet Extract
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
Stearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingGinsenosides
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PCA Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethiconol, Sorbitan Olivate, PEG-150 Distearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Squalane, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Trifolium Pratense Leaf Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Velvet Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Xanthan Gum, Arachidyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trisodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Tromethamine, Ginsenosides, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPetrolatum
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingCera Alba
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Alcohol Denat., Petrolatum, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Cera Alba, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, CI 14700, CI 19140, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Stearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Poloxamer 338, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum
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 DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumThis combination of bacteria + black tea + fermentation = kombucha.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps boost radiance, smoothness, and thickens skin.
You can read about the skin benefits of the individual parts here:
Saccharomyces
Black tea
Water. 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