What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Synthetic Wax
AbrasiveSqualane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Macadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Beeswax, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Synthetic Wax, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceresin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glucose, Xanthan Gum
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 9%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 9%
UV AbsorberOctyldodecanol
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Octocrylene 9%, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Beeswax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.
Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.
In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).
Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.
Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.
People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.
Learn more about BeeswaxThis 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 ButterCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about Tocopherol