What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 5%
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientMusa Sapientum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBetaine
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhysalis Pubescens Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantJojoba Esters
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHectorite
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialColloidal Oatmeal 5%, Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hectorite, Carbomer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin
Colloidal Oatmeal 1%
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSpent Grain Wax
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantQuercetin
AntioxidantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingColloidal Oatmeal 1%, Water, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Spent Grain Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Quercetin, Zinc Oxide, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Panthenol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phytosphingosine, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Cholesterol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis 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 ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 OlivateAccording to INCI standards, this ingredient refers to the physical ground up oatmeal. If you are looking for colloidal oatmeal in skincare, you'll most likely see Avena Sativa Kernel Extract on your ingredient list.
Physical colloidal oatmeal is an abrasive meaning it provides physical exfoliation.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSorbitan 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 OlivateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
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 Water