What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Galactoarabinan
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Nylon-6
Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Aframomum Melegueta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Ozokerite, Cera Microcristallina, Stearic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Nylon-6, Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Silica, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aframomum Melegueta Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Perfuming
Cera Alba
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Polybutene
Steareth-21
CleansingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Nylon-12
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffin, Cera Alba, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Polybutene, Steareth-21, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-2, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Silica Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Nylon-12, BHT, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 77007, CI 77163, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77510, CI 77742, 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.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 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.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePalmitic 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Stearic 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
