Ingredient

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

better known as Shea butter · Korean label: 시어버터

Shea butter, a soft solid fat pressed from the nut of the African shea tree, composed mainly of stearic and oleic acids (about 85-90% of its fatty acids) plus an unusually high unsaponifiable fraction with vitamins A and E.

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Pro-vitamin B5

Pro-vitamin B5; soothes, hydrates, and helps repair the skin and hair surface.

also for dryness

Hyaluronic Acid (salt form)

The salt form of hyaluronic acid; draws water into the skin for instant hydration.

also for dryness

AHA exfoliant (gentle)

A gentler AHA exfoliant that also hydrates; good for first-time acid users.

also for dryness

Good to know

Fungal-acne trigger
Can feed Malassezia yeast — a trigger for fungal acne (pityrosporum folliculitis) in people prone to it.

What it does

moderate evidence

It is a rich occlusive emollient that softens skin and seals in moisture.

Benefits

Rich, occlusive moisturizer that softens skin and reduces water loss
Soothing and conditioning, with antioxidants (vitamins A and E and polyphenols) from its unsaponifiable fraction
Helps buffer skin against drying environmental stress like wind and cold

Side effects

A heavy butter that can feel greasy and may be too rich or pore-clogging for oily, acne-prone skin
Its high stearic/oleic fatty-acid content falls in the C11-C24 range that lipid-dependent Malassezia yeast can feed on, so it is generally flagged as a potential fungal-acne (Malassezia folliculitis) trigger
Derived from a tree nut; people with tree-nut allergies may wish to be cautious, though reactions are uncommon