What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingParaffin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Va Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Cera Alba
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Polybutene
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTribehenin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rayon
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Paraffin, Ethylene/Va Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Cera Alba, Synthetic Beeswax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polybutene, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Steareth-2, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Rayon, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Pvp, Methylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, CI 77007, CI 77266, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Mica, CI 75470, CI 77288, CI 77742, CI 77510
Water
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polybutene
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cera Alba
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Palm Acid
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Pvp, Ozokerite, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polybutene, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Cera Alba, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, CI 77499
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.
Methylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolPolybutene 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 PolybutenePvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpWater. 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
