What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Antimicrobial
Neofinetia Falcata Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Taraxacum Platycarpum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Beeswax, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Beta-Glucan, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Polyglutamic Acid, Sucrose, Tocopherol, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, Neofinetia Falcata Callus Culture Extract, Oryza Sativa Callus Culture Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Taraxacum Platycarpum Callus Culture Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Citronellol
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 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
