What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHoney
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingRosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Betaine, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isoamyl Laurate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triethanolamine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Carbomer, Honey, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Squalane, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Dextrin, Ubiquinone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, C13-15 Alkane, Propanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C15-19 Alkane, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Biotin, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Plankton Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Maltodextrin, Cetyl Palmitate, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinSorbitan 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
