What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingFructose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Trideceth-10
CleansingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantSucrose
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phaseolus Radiatus Extract
Skin ConditioningSea Salt
Abrasive
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientSesamum Indicum Sprout Extract
HumectantGlycine Soja Sprout Extract
EmollientPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRumex Crispus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glucose, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Fructose, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oryza Sativa Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Trideceth-10, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sucrose, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Sea Salt, Aspergillus Ferment, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract, Glycine Soja Sprout Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylate-13
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPolyisobutene
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate-13, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Alcohol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Sorbate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic 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.
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 GlycolCetearyl 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 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 GlycerinSodium 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 Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateSorbitan 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
