What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Emulsion StabilisingPseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil/Glucose/Malt Extract/Soybean Flour/Yeast Extract Ferment Filtrate
Emulsion StabilisingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCetearyl Olivate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientXylitol
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
PEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil/Glucose/Malt Extract/Soybean Flour/Yeast Extract Ferment Filtrate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylitol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hexylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBalanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Glycerin, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Coconut Alkanes, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactobacillus, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceThis 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 OlivateGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSorbitan 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 not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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