Olive & June Foot Serum Versus Flexitol Heel Balm
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glucoside
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Triethyl Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Lanolin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Paraffin
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Urea, Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Decyl Oleate, PEG-20 Stearate, Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Parfum
Reviews
Alternatives
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 ButterCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlyceryl 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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTocopheryl 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
