What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningAllyl Stearate/Va Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolyvinyl Laurate
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingEthylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Water, Allyl Stearate/Va Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Cera, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Paraffin, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinyl Laurate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Synthetic Beeswax, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, PEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingVp/Va Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCera Alba
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantMannitol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeStearyl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Palmitate
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantParaffin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearate
CleansingLaureth-21
CleansingBehenic Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingArachidic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Tribehenin, PEG-40 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Vp/Va Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cera Alba, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Paraffin, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearate, Laureth-21, Behenic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cera Microcristallina, Arachidic Acid, Palmitic Acid, CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cera alba is beeswax, or the wax used by bees to make honeycombs. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient. A study from 2003 found beeswax to be a stronger emollient than ingredients such as petroleum jelly.
As an emollient, beeswax helps hydrate the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating. This helps create consistent texture.
The structure of beeswax is mainly long-chain alcohols and the esters of fatty acids.
There are three types of beeswax: yellow, white, and absolute. Yellow is pure beeswax taken from the honeycomb. White beeswax is created by filtering or bleaching yellow beeswax. Absolute beeswax is created by treating beeswax with alcohol. Beeswax used in cosmetics are purified.
Beeswax has been used throughout history and even in prehistoric times. Some common uses for beeswax still used today are making candles, as a waterproofing agent, and polish for leather.
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 AlbaOryza Sativa Bran Wax is wax from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It has moisturizing properties due to its polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids content.
This ingredient is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolParaffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinWe 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 Water