What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningSulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAgar
MaskingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentWater, Sulfur, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Agar, Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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 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
