What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-21
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingC30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Synthetic Beeswax, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyacrylate-21, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Isononyl Isononanoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Biotin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Steareth-20, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polybutene
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Polyimide-1
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polybutene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Arginine, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Polyimide-1, Aminomethyl Propanol, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Shorea Robusta Resin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCi 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.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSynthetic beeswax is created to be identical in structure to beeswax without involving bees, making it a go-to for vegan formulas.
It's mainly used an an emulsion stabilizer and thickener.
This ingredient (alongside other synthetic waxes) have been concluded to be safe in cosmetics under the present practices.
Reported usage goes up to 18% and it is non-sensitizing.
Just one caveat for fungal acne: This ingredient is made up of C16-32 fatty acids and fatty acid esters. Part of this overlaps with the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on, so it's not fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic BeeswaxTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
