What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Horse Fat
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSorbitan Dioleate
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Syringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCollybia Mushroom Extract
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Edtmp
Hc Yellow No. 4
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Horse Fat, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyacrylamide, Laureth-7, Sorbitan Dioleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Collybia Mushroom Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sodium Edtmp, Hc Yellow No. 4
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
PEG-100 Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Titanium Dioxide, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Beeswax, Ethylhexyl Triazone, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 15985, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.
Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.
In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).
Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.
Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.
People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.
Learn more about BeeswaxCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParaffinum 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Stearic 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.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
