What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Brassica Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sh-Polypeptide-121
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Sugarcane Juice Extract Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Caprylic Acid
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Brassica Alcohol, Glycerin, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Sh-Polypeptide-50, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces/Sugarcane Juice Extract Ferment Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Xylitol, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Caprylic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Isostearyl Alcohol, Hydroxystearic Acid, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Genipa Americana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Squalane, Triolein, Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Jojoba Esters, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Genipa Americana Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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 OlivateCetyl Palmitate is a wax-ester that pulls triple duty as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion enhancer.
It helps enhance the texture of products by giving a smooth, silky feel while helping to stabilize the formula. The emollient action softens skin and reduces moisture loss.
This ingredient is considered safe and human testing of concentrations between 2.5-2.7% were found minimal irritation. Just know, there have been very rare cases of the palmitate family causing contact dermatitis.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it contains a C16 ester (palmitic acid) that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateCitric 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 GlycerinSorbitan 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 OlivateSorbitan Palmitate is an emulsifier.
It is created by reacting sorbitol with palmitic acid.
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. 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
