What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sucrose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sucrose, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Water, Parfum, Sorbic Acid
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nacre Powder
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Juice
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Talc
Abrasive
Triethanolamine
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Coumarin
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Nacre Powder, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Propylene Glycol, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butter, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Juice, Citric Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77491, CI 45410, CI 77499
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 ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil comes from the sweet almond, a tree native to Iran. This oil has no fragrance and is non-volatile.
Almonds contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a rich source of Vitamin E, a great antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Sweet almond oil contains fatty acids such as linolenic acid and triglycerides.
The content of sweet almond oil makes it a great emollient; it can help soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a barrier over your skin to trap moisture in. Sweet almond oil has antioxidant properties.
Those with an almond allergy should be careful of this ingredient and speak with a professional about using it in your skincare.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilWater. 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
