Vegetable glycerine is easily one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in skincare (it’s probably already in 90% of the products you use), yet it is simultaneously one of the most overlooked. That’s probably because it has so many other applications in both healthcare and industrial settings, but glycerine is actually a very powerful humectant that may actually hydrate skin better than the current skincare darling, Hyaluronic Acid.

Shea butter is a vegetable fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is considered edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries, although most in the west will be more familiar with the myriad hair and skincare uses of shea butter.