What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingLecithin
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylene Brassylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Dimethicone
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLecithin
EmollientCoenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lecithin, Coenochloris Signiensis 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.
Cetearyl 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 OlivateDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSorbitan 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 OlivateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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