What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Canola Oil
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Canola Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Panthenol, Anhydroxylitol, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Sucrose Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
C11-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diisostearyl Malate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ectoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Simethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sphingolipids, Arachidyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, Ceramide NP, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Stearic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isohexadecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Allantoin, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Phytate, Cyanocobalamin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerThis 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 ButterCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.
As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent oils and waters from separating. It can also
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Sorbitan Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may feed that yeast, so it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate is derived from isostearic acid. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
The highest concentration of this ingredient is found in lipsticks.
This ingredient is minimally water soluble and may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl TetraisostearateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may feed that yeast, so it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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
