What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Perfuming
Cera Alba
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-21
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Steareth-21
CleansingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingCellulose
Absorbent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffin, Cera Alba, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-21, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Steareth-21, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Steareth-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Cellulose, Panthenol, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polybutene
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Polyimide-1
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polybutene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Arginine, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyimide-1, Aminomethyl Propanol, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Shorea Robusta Resin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCi 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Glyceryl 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 StearateHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPanthenol 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 PanthenolStearic 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Vp/Eicosene Copolymer yet.
Water. 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
