What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantVinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Water, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Ectoin, Glycereth-26, Melatonin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Allantoin, Carnosine, Ergothioneine, Cetearyl Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sorbitan Oleate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Polyisobutene
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Mannitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Arginine, Mannitol, Stearic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Oryza Sativa Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Disodium EDTA, Aspergillus Ferment, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cyclodextrin, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
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 AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 OlivateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.
It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.
Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerSorbitan Oleate is a PEG-free emulsifier made by esterifying sorbitol with oleic acid.
You'll likely see it paired with Polysorbate 80 to create the right emulsification balance.
Typical use levels in formulas range from 2-10%.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient.
Since this ingredient is an ester of oleic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Oleic acid is a fatty acid that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateSorbitan 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
