What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGigartina Skottsbergii Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera
Algae
Skin Conditioning
Undaria Pinnatifida Vesicles
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Saccharomyces/Manganese Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Myrtus Communis Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cupressus Sempervirens Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Caprifolium Extract
AstringentLonicera Japonica Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Gigartina Skottsbergii Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera, Algae, Undaria Pinnatifida Vesicles, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Saccharomyces/Manganese Ferment, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Myrtus Communis Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Stearic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Lonicera Japonica Callus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Reviews
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 OlivateGlyceryl 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 StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan 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
