What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Rhabarbarum Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Astragalus Membranaceus Extract
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Diheptyl Succinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Stearic Acid, Madecassoside, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Rheum Rhabarbarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium PCA, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Alanine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Arginine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Palmitic Acid, Isoleucine, PCA, Lauroyl Lysine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingCera Alba
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-10
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Cera Alba, Cetyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Steareth-10, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Parfum
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 ButterGlyceryl 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 StearateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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
