What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Galactoarabinan
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-21
CleansingBHT
Antioxidant
Water, CI 77499, Cera Microcristallina, Stearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Stearyl Stearate, CI 77007, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Laureth-21, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Nylon-12
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCeteareth-25
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
PEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingKaolin
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Pvp, Polyamide-5, Polyacrylic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Nylon-12, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ceteareth-25, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-90m, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Kaolin, Tocopherol
Reviews
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 GlycolGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilStearic 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 AcidWater. 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
