What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
AntioxidantCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glucose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Caffeine, Bakuchiol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMica
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citric Acid, CI 77891
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 ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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