What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates Copolymer
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Synthetic Beeswax, Acrylates Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Sodium Phosphate, CI 77499
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.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolPalmitic 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 AcidSynthetic beeswax is created to be identical in structure to beeswax. It possesses the same occlusive and emulsion properties.
A blend of fatty acid esters, fatty acids, and alcohols are used to create synthetic beeswax. Whether or not this ingredient is vegan depends on the source. Sometimes, lanolin is used for its creation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic BeeswaxTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
