Olay Moisturizing Sensitive Skin Cream Versus L'Oreal Fragrance Free Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyacrylamide
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyacrylamide, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Laureth-7, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Shorea Robusta Seed Butter
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingAcrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Isobutane
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Propanediol, Myristyl Myristate, Shorea Robusta Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Isohexadecane, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Protein, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Retinyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine, Myristic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Isobutane, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecanePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
