What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisopropyl Adipate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Microcrystalline Wax, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Persea Gratissima Butter, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Behenyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Cera Alba, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Ozokerite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ceramide NP, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Trihydroxystearin, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, BHT
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C20-40 Alkyl Stearate
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCera Microcristallina, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Myristyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C20-40 Alkyl Stearate, Octocrylene, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Water, Cera Alba, Propylene Glycol, BHT, 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.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCera 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 AlbaCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol
