What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Wax
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Wax
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Galactoarabinan
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Palmitic Acid, Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Wax, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Galactoarabinan, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hexylene Glycol, Arachidic Acid, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Pullulan
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Propanediol, Pullulan, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Cellulose, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, 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.
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters is an oil.
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax is wax from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It has moisturizing properties due to its polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids content.
This ingredient is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
Palmitic 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolStearic 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 AcidWater. 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
