What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate
Skin ProtectingTetracarboxymethyl Palmitoyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocoglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phytosterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Zinc Gluconate, Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate, Tetracarboxymethyl Palmitoyl Dipeptide-12, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Propylene Glycol, Boron Nitride, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Tartaric Acid, Tocopherol, Glucose, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, CI 14700
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 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
