LesseEssential MoisturizerIngredients

Shea Butter is a great natural moisturizer everybody knows about. And it’s popular for a reason. It contains 5 essential fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic), vitamins (A, D, E, F), and catechins, which are antioxidants. It moisturizes the skin and protects it from UV, cold, and other negative factors. It can be used on its own and will not harm your skin even in very high concentrations.

Ceramide NP is one of the most important ceramides found naturally in human skin. It plays a key role in maintaining a strong, healthy moisture barrier — the skin’s protective shield. When this barrier is damaged, skin becomes dry, irritated, and more sensitive. It helps restore that balance.

In skincare formulas, the component works by filling in the microscopic gaps between skin cells, much like mortar between bricks. This strengthens the outer layer of the skin, reduces moisture loss, and enhances overall resilience. Products containing Ceramide NP are especially beneficial for dry, sensitive, or compromised skin, including conditions like irritation from over-exfoliating or cold weather exposure.

Its biggest advantage is biocompatibility: Ceramide NP closely mimics the skin’s own natural ceramides, making it highly effective and well-tolerated. When combined with cholesterol and fatty acids, its performance is even better, helping to rebuild the lipid barrier more efficiently.

Overall, Ceramide NP is a gentle yet powerful ingredient that supports long-term skin health by reinforcing hydration, smoothing texture, and improving the skin’s ability to protect itself.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a form of Vitamine E. It’s used as an alternative to Tocopherol because it is more stable in the formulation. It has all the positive effects of Tocopherol plus better stability. It’s a brilliant component. It conditions and nourishes the skin helping it to resist aging. It also helps to protect the skin from the sun. High concentrations of Tocopheryl Acetate can lead to irritation and allergic reactions.

Citric Acid is one of the AHAs and it is a super useful component! It’s a great antioxidant. It acts as a soft peeling that removes dead cells and kills bacteria. It becomes even more effective if used with other cosmetic acids. Combined formulations are more active, but can irritate sensitive skin if used too often. The component can also whiten the skin and remove dark areas.

It can be an irritator due to its naturally lower pH level of 2.2. But manufacturers also use it as a pH adjuster so in most cases you will not have any issues.

Xanthan Gum is used as a thickener or rheology modifier and emulsion stabilizer. It doesn’t provide any notable skin-related effects and is used mostly for formulation purposes. It makes the product’s texture smooth and even. It’s a naturally-derived thickener. Notable fact: it can also be found in the food you eat every day, so it is 100% safe.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative that increases the shelf life of the product. It’s a great alternative to parabens. That's why manufacturers like to use this component. It is safe in concentration of up to 10% but it is used in cosmetics in amounts of 1% or even lower.

Linalool gives the product a nice and fresh lavender scent. It can be found in many essential oils. It oxidizes during air exposure and becomes allergenic. It can lead to irritation causing problems for people with sensitive skin. The threat is even higher if the product was opened several months ago. In such products, more Linalool is oxidized.

Sodium Benzoate doesn’t have any great skincare effects and is used for formulation purposes. It’s a corrosion inhibitor, fragrance ingredient, and preservative. It is not a broad-spectrum preservative and it’s used with other preservatives for good efficiency. It’s safe, but people with eczema or a history of skin allergies should use this component with attention.

Limonene provides a nice and fresh citrus scent. It can be found in many plants. It's used in cosmetics because of its low price and pleasant smell.