What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Officinalis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
MaskingMalva Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Extract
PerfumingSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentLamium Album Extract
AstringentCichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAlkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Caprylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Olea Europaea Leaf Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Zea Mays Starch, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Flower Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Beta Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Prunus Spinosa Fruit Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Lamium Album Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Oligosaccharides, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate
Olea Europaea Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLamium Album Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPapaver Rhoeas Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingActinotus Helianthi Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water Extract
AntioxidantFoeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbus Aucuparia Fruit/Leaf Extract
HumectantChenopodium Album Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientIsoamyl Cocoate
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantIron Oxides
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeP-Anisic Acid
MaskingFragaria Vesca Fruit
AstringentAlthaea Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lamium Album Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Actinotus Helianthi Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Sorbus Aucuparia Fruit/Leaf Extract, Chenopodium Album Flower Extract, Bakuchiol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Lactobacillus Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Lecithin, Isoamyl Cocoate, Diheptyl Succinate, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, P-Anisic Acid, Fragaria Vesca Fruit, Althaea Officinalis Leaf Extract
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 OilThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilWe don't have a description for Olea Europaea Leaf Water yet.
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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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