What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polybutene
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Perfuming
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Polybutene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Synthetic Wax, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Beeswax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum
Polybutene
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Perfuming
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Ceresin, Synthetic Wax, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Beeswax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.
Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.
In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).
Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.
Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.
People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.
Learn more about BeeswaxCamellia Japonica Seed Oil comes from the Japanese Camellia plant. This plant is native to East Asia and known as "Tsubaki" in Japanese.
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe the skin by forming a barrier. This barrier traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydated.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCopernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxDehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.
As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.
Learn more about Dehydroacetic AcidDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
This ingredient is a high molecular weight fatty acid ester. It has skin conditioning properties and is also used as an emollient, texture enhancer, and viscosity emulsifier.
Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylene/Propylene Copolymer is an exfoliant.
Hydrogenated Castor Oil (aka "castor wax") is what you get when castor oil is turned into a wax.
Its dominant fatty acid is ricinoleic acid, giving it both emollient and mild humectant properties.
According to EU CosIng, this ingredient helps soften skin, keep oil and water stay mixed, and thickens products.
Hydrogenated castor oil at 30% did not trigger a positive patch-test reaction and is well-tolerated.
Since this ingredient is based on an 18-carbon fatty acid, it falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on and may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Castor OilMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate is a fragrance.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPolybutene is used to help control the viscosity of a product. This just means it helps adjusts the texture.
It is a polymer and does not get absorbed into the skin due to its large size.
Studies found this ingredient did not irritate skin in concentrations below 15%.
Learn more about PolybuteneThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonatePyrus Malus Seed Oil is an oil.
This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
It has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
