e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream Versus Trader Joe's Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer

e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream Versus Trader Joe's Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer Detailed comparison of e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream Fragrance-Free versus Trader Joe's Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Isohexadecane Stearyl Heptanoate Glycerin Butylene Glycol Isopropyl Isostearate Niacinamide Cetearyl Olivate Trehalose Squalane Dimethicone Stearic Acid Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Polymethylsilsesquioxane Silica Sodium Hyaluronate Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Panthenol Sorbitan Olivate Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Polyethylene Disodium EDTA Polyacrylate-13 Polyisobutene Polysorbate 20 Caprylyl Glycol Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Carbomer Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer Saccharide Isomerate Propanediol Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Polyamide-5 Hydroxyacetophenone Polysilicone-11 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Laureth-12 Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Lactobacillus Ferment Tocopherol Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Silybum Marianum Extract Betula Alba Leaf Extract Beta-Sitosterol Squalene Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract Citric Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Citrate Water, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyamide-5, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Laureth-12, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silybum Marianum Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Panthenol, Squalene, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate 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. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. Cetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable. You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum. These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin. This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data. Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. 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.