What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRaspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Borage Seed Oil Aminopropanediol Amides
Skin Conditioning
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetrimonium Bromide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Piroctone Olamine, Xanthan Gum, Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Asiaticoside, Phytosphingosine, Borage Seed Oil Aminopropanediol Amides
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lactate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Mannitol, Lactic Acid, Chlorphenesin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Reviews
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 ButterChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 StearateThis ingredient is more commonly known as IPMP or Isopropyl Methylphenol. It is a preservative and has antimicrobial properties.
According to the EPA, this ingredient is allowed for use in cleansers, creams, powders, bath products, toothpaste, perfume, and more.
Tocopheryl 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
