What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octyldodecanol
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientGarcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientLanolin
EmollientAroma
Lecithin
EmollientSilybin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRebaudioside A
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Octyldodecanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vegetable Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Ceramide NP, Glycine Soja Oil, Lanolin, Aroma, Lecithin, Silybin, Tocopherol, Rebaudioside A, Citric Acid, Limonene
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 BeeswaxThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol