Water. 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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Glycerin

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Sorbitan Olivate

Emulsifying

Sorbitan 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.

Manufacturers sell sorbitan olivate under the name OliveM 1000. OliveM 1000 a multifunctional ingredient. It is self-emulsifying. According to a manufacturer, OliveM 1000 does not disrupt natural skin biome.

Due to its olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Sorbitan Olivate

Butylene Glycol

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Learn more about Butylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Ingredient Ratings

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.

Protini Polypeptide Cream

Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream

When to use

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream 58 ingredients

Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream 45 ingredients

602 Routines

52% use in am

48% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

151 Routines

40% use in am

60% use in pm

95% use every day

When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream 58 ingredients

3.7 /5

from 18 ratings

Expensive (7) Hydrating (6) Works Well (4)

char

1 year ago

Review

for the price point of this moisturizer i feel like i expected a lot more?

i mostly used this moisturizer at night paired with my tretinoin and i found that the 2 worked well with each other. it’s a really nice almost gel-like cream texture with a light fragrance. i found it a little hard to blend while my face was still damp which is when i usually apply moisturizer. i don’t feel like it did Show more

#expensive

#hydrating

#works well

Drunk Elephant

Protini Polypeptide Cream

Region: US

zankhaft

1 year ago

Review

My HG facial moisturizer. It makes my face feel so soft and velvety. It dries quickly, is gentle even when my face is on fire and it has a slight "chemical" smell that I tend to like. I love the pump as well. I use this when I need a good hit of luxury.

#expensive

#hydrating

#light

#absorbs well

Drunk Elephant

Protini Polypeptide Cream

Region: US

Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream 45 ingredients

4.5 /5

from 4 ratings

No Scent (3) Absorbs Well (2) Great Value (2)

Cheeks

8 months ago

Review

I have dry, eczema and rosacea skin and found this product nice. It does not have enough hydration to last the whole night for me but if I layer with my other moisturiser works really well. I like this during the day as it has a slight matte effect. I love the added peptides and the pod changing system so you only have to buy a new pot saves on plastic.

#great value

#light

#no scent

#works well

Haruharu Wonder

Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream

Totoro

5 months ago

Review

As a mature woman with sensitive, dry skin and rosacea I am always looking for moisturizers. SkinSort introduced me to this one and for the most part I like it. Because of the peptides I thought it would be an evening product but it is not moisturizing enough. I use it in the morning alone but mixed with Purito Dermide on my cheeks. (It may be fine in the summer months on its own.)

#great value

#light

#absorbs well

#no scent

Haruharu Wonder

Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream