What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllium Fistulosum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allium Fistulosum Bulb Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Beeswax, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-32
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Beeswax, Dimethicone, PEG-32, PEG-6, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, 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.
Learn more about BeeswaxBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
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
