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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPEG-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialEscin
TonicSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Glycol Stearate, PEG-2 Stearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Niacinamide, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Carbomer, Panthenol, Chlorphenesin, C12-16 Alcohols, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Escin, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
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 ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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