What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Laureth-21
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Alcohol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Pvp, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Laureth-21, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polybutene
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientShorea Robusta Resin
TonicXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLaureth-21
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Synthetic Beeswax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Polybutene, Glyceryl Stearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Shorea Robusta Resin, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-21, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid, CI 77499, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer yet.
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.
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.
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateWe don't have a description for Laureth-21 yet.
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.
Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpStearic 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 AcidWe 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
