What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-8
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaviar Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hyaluronic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Hexapeptide-8, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Caviar Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCetearyl Olivate
Glycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate, Betaine, Diheptyl Succinate, Squalane, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide NP, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77007, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 OlivateGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSorbitan 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 feed that yeast, so it 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