What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
10-Hydroxydecenoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Guanidine Carbonate
BufferingPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Glycol, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 10-Hydroxydecenoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Guanidine Carbonate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sclerotium Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCamphor
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Octanal
Perfuming
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pinene
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Petrolatum, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Glycerin, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Beeswax, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Malic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camphor, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citral, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Octanal, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Pinene, Polysorbate 60, Quercetin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
Beeswax's wax esters are derived primarily from palmitic and oleic acid (C16 and C18:1). Both of these fall within the C11-C24 feeding window.
The Malassezia yeast can potentially cleave these esters and release usable fatty acids, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. However, not everyone will react to this ingredient.
Learn more about BeeswaxButylene 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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 60Water. 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
