What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingKhaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingSantalum Spicata Wood Oil
PerfumingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingMyroxylon Pereirae Oil
MaskingBoswellia Carterii Oil
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Wheat Amino Acids, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Santalum Spicata Wood Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Amyl Cinnamal, Citral, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.
As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent oils and waters from separating. It can also
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Sorbitan 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 feed that yeast, so it 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.
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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan 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 WaterXanthan 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