What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Triethanolamine
BufferingMagnesium Silicate
AbsorbentPEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Paraffin, Synthetic Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Candelilla Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Triethanolamine, Magnesium Silicate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingCera Alba
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantSimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Polymethacrylate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
BHT
Antioxidant
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Paraffin, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cera Alba, Acacia Senegal Gum, Palmitic Acid, CI 77499, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, CI 77007, Simethicone, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Silica, Myristic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-10, BHT, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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.
Ci 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.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Hydroxyethylcellulose 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 HydroxyethylcelluloseMyristic Acid, aka tetradecanoic acid, is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in coconut oil and palm oil.
In skincare, it is an:
Research indicates that this ingredient posts a low risk of irritation and sensitization.
Since myristic acid is a C14 fatty acid, it falls within the range that Malassezia can metabolize, and therefore not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic 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 AcidParaffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinStearic 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 AcidTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
