What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
PerfumingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Retinol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Carbomer, Caffeine, Whey Protein, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Disodium EDTA, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Potassium Sorbate, Dipeptide-2, Citric Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Urea, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
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 an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl 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. 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