What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Polyurethane-35
Cera Alba
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate
Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientEthylene/Va Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParaffin
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyurethane-35, Cera Alba, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ethylene/Va Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Paraffin, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Myristic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCandelilla Cera
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polymethacrylate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylparaben
PreservativePEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativeSimethicone
EmollientRayon
Polyquaternium-10
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolycaprolactone
StabilisingWater, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Cera Alba, Stearic Acid, Candelilla Cera, Triethanolamine, Palmitic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylparaben, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Simethicone, Rayon, Polyquaternium-10, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polycaprolactone
Reviews
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.
Learn more about Cera AlbaThis ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePalmitic 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