What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Distearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lactoperoxidase
StabilisingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingUrea
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Alcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Algin
Glucose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol Caprylate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Distearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Cholesterol, Steareth-10, Polysilicone-11, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Sodium Polyaspartate, Caffeine, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Salicylic Acid, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Maris Sal, Algae Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Whey Protein, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Lactobacillus Ferment, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Urea, Bisabolol, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Retinyl Palmitate, Trisiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hydrolyzed Algin, Glucose, Trehalose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Yeast Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol Caprylate, Sodium PCA, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 40, Laureth-7, Polyquaternium-51, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
C15-19 Alkane
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMel
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Royal Jelly
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingParfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
PEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Mel, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Royal Jelly, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-21, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, BHT, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, 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.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl 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
