What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rubus Villosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tribehenin, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Pentylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Melatonin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Rubus Villosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Lanolin Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Lanolin
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (aka candelilla wax) is a vegan stand-in for beeswax. It is a plant-derived wax that functions as an astringent, emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and skin conditioner.
On skin, it forms a protective barrier that helps lock in moisture while it enhances product stability, prevents separation, and helps color last longer in makeup.
This ingredient is generally safe for use in cosmetics with one nuance: some grades of candelilla wax can naturally contain benzyl alcohol at concentrations high enough to require declaration under EU labeling rules. This isn't a concern for most people but relevant for those with fragrance sensitivities.
Candelilla wax contains fatty acids (mainly C31) and wax esters that can be used by the Malassezia yeast, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might see Euphorbia Cerifera "Wax" instead of "cera". This is because some brands, databases, or labels use it interchangeably; they're the same ingredient.
Learn more about Euphorbia Cerifera CeraThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
