e-l-f e.l.f. Hello Hydration Face Cream

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Isohexadecane
3. Stearyl Heptanoate
4. Glycerin
5. Butylene Glycol
6. Isopropyl Isostearate
7. Niacinamide
8. Cetearyl Olivate
9. Trehalose
10. Squalane
11. Dimethicone
12. Stearic Acid
13. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
14. Polymethylsilsesquioxane
15. Silica
16. Sodium Hyaluronate
17. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
18. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
19. Panthenol
20. Sorbitan Olivate
21. Cetearyl Alcohol
22. Glyceryl Stearate
23. PEG-100 Stearate
24. Polyethylene
25. Disodium EDTA
26. Polyacrylate-13
27. Polyisobutene
28. Polysorbate 20
29. Caprylyl Glycol
30. Phenoxyethanol
31. Ethylhexylglycerin
32. Fragrance
33. Carbomer

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains mineral oilContains animal-derivedContains siliconesContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains fragrance

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

IsohexadecaneStearyl HeptanoateCetearyl Olivate

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

BINDING

Isopropyl Isostearate

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

Other ingredients

TrehaloseSqualaneDimethiconeStearic AcidAluminum Starch OctenylsuccinatePolymethylsilsesquioxaneSilicaSodium HyaluronatePalmitoyl Tripeptide-1Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7PanthenolSorbitan OlivateCetearyl AlcoholGlyceryl StearatePEG-100 StearatePolyethyleneDisodium EDTAPolyacrylate-13PolyisobutenePolysorbate 20Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerinFragranceCarbomer

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Isohexadecane

Lightweight mineral-oil-derived emollient and solvent; low viscosity, non-comedogenic, improves texture

Stearyl Heptanoate

Lipophilic emollient and skin-conditioning agent; improves texture and reduces dryness; high levels may increase greasiness.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Isopropyl Isostearate

Light emollient/ester for silky feel; stable, O/W compatible, potentially comedogenic at high levels.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Cetearyl Olivate

Natural emulsifier pairing with glucosides; skin-like feel, biodegradable, prone to oxidation requiring light protection

Trehalose

Trehalose; mild humectant and stabilizer for proteins/actives; hygroscopic, light skin feel.

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

Modified starch absorbent at 1–10%; for powder products, oil-absorbing without heavy feel

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Silicone polymer for emolliency, matte effect, and suspension; used in foundations or powder suspensions, typical usage 1-5%, smooth skin feel.

Silica

Silica powder at 1–10%; absorbs oil, thickens, provides matte finish, for oil-control products

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 for repair; requires lipid carrier, unstable in aqueous phase

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 boosts collagen; use 0.1–1%, formulate with lipid carriers

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Sorbitan Olivate

O/W emulsifier, HLB ~15, requires ionic co-surfactant, potential sensitizer.

Cetearyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol emulsifier at 1-5%; non-ionic surfactant

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

PEG-100 Stearate

Non-ionic emulsifier, requires ionics for stability; check PEG for formaldehyde.

Polyethylene

Plastic polymer particles for abrasion or film; check EU ban on microplastics in rinse-off products, flush-off only

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Polyacrylate-13

Not decoded yet

Polyisobutene

Inert film former and occlusive; increases viscosity, slippery feel, used in lipsticks

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

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