What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate-13
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tocopherol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlycine
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Octyldodecanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glycine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Polyglycerin-3, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 ButterDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherGlycerin (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 GlycerinSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
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 HydroxideTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
