This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This acne moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Leaf Water and Zinc Oxide to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vinyldimethicone
Diglycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Isododecane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Succinic Acid
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Heparin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyldimethicone, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Isododecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Succinic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Heparin, Cholesterol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Squalane, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide EOP, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Viola Tricolor Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Zinc PCA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
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
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 GlycolCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 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 is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
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.
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 OlivateXanthan 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
