What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cera Alba
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate
Emollient
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
PEG-6 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Hesperetin Laurate
Antioxidant
Vanillin
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Cera Alba, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Parfum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, PEG-6 Isostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Trihydroxystearin, Hesperetin Laurate, Vanillin, Butylene Glycol, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Geraniol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientMyrica Pubescens Fruit Wax
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Myrica Pubescens Fruit Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cera alba is beeswax, or the wax used by bees to make honeycombs. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient. A study from 2003 found beeswax to be a stronger emollient than ingredients such as petroleum jelly.
As an emollient, beeswax helps hydrate the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating. This helps create consistent texture.
The structure of beeswax is mainly long-chain alcohols and the esters of fatty acids.
There are three types of beeswax: yellow, white, and absolute. Yellow is pure beeswax taken from the honeycomb. White beeswax is created by filtering or bleaching yellow beeswax. Absolute beeswax is created by treating beeswax with alcohol. Beeswax used in cosmetics are purified.
Beeswax has been used throughout history and even in prehistoric times. Some common uses for beeswax still used today are making candles, as a waterproofing agent, and polish for leather.
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 Cera AlbaCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about CitralLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
