What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCera Alba
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Steareth-20
CleansingSilica
Abrasive
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Polymethacrylate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Ultramarines
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Steareth-20, Silica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, Tin Oxide, Panthenol, BHT, Ultramarines, Mica, CI 75470, Titanium Dioxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCera Alba
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
PPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Methylpropanediol
SolventPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Algin
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming
Galactoarabinan
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Stearate, Cera Alba, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Dimethicone, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Carbonate, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Methylpropanediol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Algin, Limonene, Galactoarabinan, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Biosaccharide Gum-1, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 77007, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, 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.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTThis is another name for beeswax; it's a 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) and your skin.
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.
Beeswax's wax esters are derived primarily from palmitic and oleic acid (C16 and C18:1). Both of these fall within the C11-C24 feeding window.
The Malassezia yeast can potentially cleave these esters and release usable fatty acids, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. However, not everyone will react to this ingredient.
Learn more about Cera AlbaGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
