What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Olus Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
Olus Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Tribehenin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Citric Acid
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 ButterCetyl 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 AcidOlus Oil is the INCI umbrella name for vegetable oil; this is an oil of plant origin made up mostly of fatty acid triglycerides.
The key thing to know is that it's a generic term rather than one specific oil: it refers to a vegetable oil or a blend of vegetable oils so its effect may vary depending on the sources used.
Functionally, it's an emollient that helps soften skin and works as a hydrator to prevent water loss.
This ingredient works well across a wide pH range and has a long shelf life.
Fungal acne:
Because olus oil is an undefined blend, its fungal acne safety depends entirely which oils are used. A Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride-based version would be fungal acne safe while a rapeseed blend will contain longer-chain fatty acids that Malassezia can feed on.
