What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pseudozyma Epicola/Nitrosomonas Europaea/Oil Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Enterococcus Faecium/Saururus Chinensis Extract Ferment Filtrate
EmollientAspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Oil
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pseudozyma Epicola/Nitrosomonas Europaea/Oil Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Enterococcus Faecium/Saururus Chinensis Extract Ferment Filtrate, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Stearate
CleansingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Tranexamic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lactobacillus, Lactic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Biotin, Stearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethyl Citrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Stearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
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 a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 SorbateSorbitan 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 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
