What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientEthylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Arginine
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cera Alba, Synthetic Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Jojoba Esters, Acacia Senegal Gum, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Arginine, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-12 Carnauba
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8 Beeswax
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth-12 Sulfate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Decyloxazolidinone
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, PEG-12 Carnauba, PEG-8 Beeswax, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Paraffin, Pvp, Stearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Decyloxazolidinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Ammonium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, BHT, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 77007, CI 77163, CI 77288, CI 77289, Iron Oxides, CI 77510, CI 77742, CI 77891
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 GlycolPalmitic 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 AcidStearic 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