What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Cocoate
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glutathione
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Octyldodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Isoamyl Cocoate, Propanediol, Cetyl Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose, Squalane, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Arbutin, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glutathione, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Honey Extract
Humectant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tridecapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sorbitan Olivate, Boron Nitride, Caffeine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tridecapeptide-1, Betaine, Triolein, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Astaxanthin, Allantoin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Lecithin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Glyceryl Dioleate
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 ButterCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
