What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientCera Alba
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Allyl Stearate/Va Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Laurate
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTalc
Abrasive
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Rayon
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Water, Alcohol Denat., Allyl Stearate/Va Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Cera, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Paraffin, Polyvinyl Laurate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Talc, Synthetic Beeswax, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, PEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate, Rayon, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, BHT, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, Mica, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 77288, CI 77742, CI 77510
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Palmitate
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cera Alba, Jojoba Esters, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Stearyl Palmitate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Paraffin, Cetyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Behenic Acid, Cera Microcristallina, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Sodium Phosphate, CI 77499
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.
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 AlbaCi 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.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Paraffin 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 ParaffinWater. 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
