What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Avena Strigosa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentLecithin
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycereth-26, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Pyridoxine Hcl, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Riboflavin, Dextrin, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Retinyl Palmitate, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Trehalose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Biotin, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Disodium EDTA
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 ButterCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 OlivateCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan 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 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
