What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cera Microcristallina, Glycerin, Steareth-21, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Steareth-2, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Esters
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Benzoate
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Esters, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Hexyldecanol, Cetyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pisum Sativum Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Magnolia Biondii Flower Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tripeptide-1, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-20, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Sorbitan Palmitate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Benzoate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Magnesium Chloride
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sorbitan 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 OlivateTocopheryl 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
