What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mineral Salts, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Perfuming
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Monascus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ceresin, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Ozokerite, Paraffin, Jojoba Esters, Polyethylene, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trihydroxystearin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ceramide NP, Monascus Extract, Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus Ferment, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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 ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
The term '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.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
