What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Pullulan
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Galactoarabinan
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Cera Microcristallina, Ozokerite, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Pullulan, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Galactoarabinan, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cellulose, Pvp, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77007, CI 77266, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polyacrylate-21
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTrideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Chloroxylenol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Iron Oxides
Water, Polyisobutene, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyacrylate-21, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Mica, Synthetic Beeswax, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Dipropylene Glycol, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Sorbate, Myristic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Glycerin, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Chloroxylenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Farnesol, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 StearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
