What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Beta-Sitosterol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Squalene, Xylitol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Caprylate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Parfum
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 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
