What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Nylon-12
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Steareth-20
CleansingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Pvp, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Nylon-12, Stearic Acid, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Steareth-20, Persea Gratissima Oil, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Urtica Dioica Extract, Biotin, Tocotrienols, Aminomethyl Propanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Steareth-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polybutene
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tourmaline
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Synthetic Beeswax, Paraffin, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Triethanolamine, Butylene Glycol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Polybutene, Triacontanyl Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Tourmaline, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCopernicia 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 StearateMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17 is a five amino peptide attached to myristic acid to help it absorb better into skin. It's mostly used for lash growth and as a delivery vehicle for other ingredients.
The myristic acid "tail" is basically a delivery upgrade that helps the peptide mix with your skin's natural oils so it can get where it needs to go.
In your eyelash follicles, it activates the keratin gene and promotes nutrient absorption into the follicle. This translates to thicker and longer eyelashes over time.
Besides stimulating keratin production for lash growth, this ingredient enhances the delivery of other active ingredients in a formula.
The clinical evidence is still pretty early-stage at this point. A 90 day study in 29 participants found improvements in lash length (10.52%), volume (9.3%), thickness (35%), and curl (50.83%) with no adverse reactions reported.
You might have heard that eyelash serums can cause pigmentation change in eye color to turn eyes brown. This is associated with a different class of lash serum ingredients: prostaglandin analogs.
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 is a different thing entirely and has no known association with iris pigmentation changes. The 90 day study noted no adverse effects around the eye area at all.
Learn more about Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateStearic 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
