What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Erythritol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract
Perfuming
Cocoyl Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Erythritol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract, Cocoyl Proline, Lactic Acid, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Phytate
Calendula Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingShea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantDiglycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem
HumectantPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Borago Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCalendula Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Shea Butter Glycerides, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Diglycerin, Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Anisate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Sclerotium Gum
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the āglueā that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donāt penetrate as deeply. This means theyāre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinās microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productās pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSorbitan 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
