What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Triacetin
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Urea, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyquaternium-51, Hyaluronic Acid, Triacetin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Diglycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Diglycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Ceramide NP, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citral, Limonene
Reviews
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidWater. 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
