What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantOleic Acid
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polybutene
Lecithin
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Pvp, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Mica, Oleic Acid, Silica, Polybutene, Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Laurate, Sorbitan Laurate, Soluble Collagen, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77510
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
C10-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantC9-11 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Nylon-66
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Sodium Glycerophosphate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Iron Oxides
Water, Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, C10-13 Isoparaffin, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-100 Stearate, Mica, C9-11 Isoparaffin, Nylon-66, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyisobutene, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Iron Oxides
Reviews
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 GlycolGlyceryl 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 StearateMagnesium Aluminum Silicate is a type of silica. It comes from naturally occuring minerals such as silicate ores and clay.
Magnesium aluminum silicate is used for enhancing texture and as an absorbent. Due to its large molecular size, it is unable to be absorbed into the skin.
Like other types of silica, this ingredient can be used to thicken a product. As an absorbent, it may be used to absorb extra water or help prevent clumping.
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Magnesium Aluminum SilicateMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
