What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantParfum
MaskingPropanediol
SolventPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsopropyl Stearate
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
MaskingCinnamal
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Parfum, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Isopropyl Stearate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingParfum
MaskingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingAcetyl Cedrene
Coumarin
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isododecane, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Niacinamide, Parfum, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Limonene, Geranyl Acetate, Acetyl Cedrene, Coumarin, Citral, Citronellol, Hexamethylindanopyran
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 ButterDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum 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 ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateWater. 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