What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Nitrate
SoothingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Shorea Robusta Resin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Nitrate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientParaffin
PerfumingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolybutene
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyester-4
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cera Alba, Paraffin, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Cera, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polybutene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyester-4, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, 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.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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 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.
Disodium Phosphate is a water-soluble powder used as a pH adjuster and mild chelating agent. It basically holds a specific pH and binds stray metal ions so your product stays stable.
This ingredient is usually used at very low levels and concentrations range from 0.000054% - 2.9%. The CIR Expert Panel states this ingredient to be non-irritating at current use levels.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePalmitic 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Phosphate is is behind-the-scenes formulation helper. Its main job is buffering, or locking in the product's pH.
This helps ensure the formula stays at its intended acidity through manufacturing, shipping, and sitting on your shelf. Many active ingredients like vitamin C or retinoids are pH sensitive so maintaining their happy pH range matters.
It is synthetic and reported use concentrations are very low (up to 0.086% in face powders).
Learn more about Sodium PhosphateStearic 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 AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolWe 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