Skin science article
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 Versus Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturizer (Fragrance Free)
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 Versus Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturizer (Fragrance Free) This day moisturizer is formulated around Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract to calm irritation and reduce redness. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulate
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 Versus Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturizer (Fragrance Free)
This day moisturizer is formulated around Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract to calm irritation and reduce redness.
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Isononyl Isononanoate
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Dimethicone
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Phenoxyethanol
Polyacrylate-13
Butylene Glycol
Cetyl Alcohol
Hydroxyacetophenone
Octocrylene
Stearic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Coco-Caprylate
Xanthan Gum
Chlorphenesin
Polyisobutene
Parfum
Disodium EDTA
Lecithin
Tocopherol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Citric Acid
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Benzyl Benzoate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Polysorbate 20
Sorbitan Isostearate
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
Citronellol
Geraniol
Hydroxycitronellal
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Limonene
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octocrylene, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Niacinamide
Isohexadecane
Isopropyl Isostearate
Stearyl Alcohol
Polyacrylamide
Panthenol
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Tapioca Starch
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Caprylyl Glycol
Dimethiconol
Laureth-7
Cetearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl Glucoside
Palmitic Acid
Behenyl Alcohol
PEG-100 Stearate
Titanium Dioxide
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tapioca Starch, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Laureth-7, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol
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.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Disodium 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%.
Glycerin (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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Water. 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!