What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Arginine
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C15-19 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Arginine, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decylene Glycol, Parfum
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
Cetearyl 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 OlivateDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
