What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolymethyl Methacrylate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPtfe
Tapioca Starch
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingMethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ascophyllum Nodosum
Skin ConditioningSus Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Ptfe, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, CI 77891, Mica, Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitol, Maltodextrin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ascophyllum Nodosum, Sus Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Benzoic Acid
MaskingCeteareth-33
CleansingDextran Sulfate
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Ceteareth-33, Dextran Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Phenoxyethanol, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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