What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOvum Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCandelilla Cera
EmollientButter
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPunica Granatum Sterols
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCoconut Oil Decyl Esters
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAlgae
Skin ConditioningBifida Polysaccharide
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Glycerin, Ovum Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Candelilla Cera, Butter, Bisabolol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Punica Granatum Sterols, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Retinol, Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide As, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Astaxanthin, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Poria Cocos Extract, Coconut Oil Decyl Esters, Hyaluronic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Algae, Bifida Polysaccharide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientFructose
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingJuglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientParfum
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Benzoic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-16 Alcohols, Citric Acid, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Fructose, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Starch, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
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 Glycerin