What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Polybutene
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
PPG-2-Deceth-30
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Acetate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Pantolactone
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Paraffin, Synthetic Beeswax, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Polybutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Mica, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, PPG-2-Deceth-30, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Dimethicone, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pantolactone, Biotin, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Sunflower Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingStearyl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientStearyl Palmitate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Laureth-20
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBehenic Acid
Cleansing
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingArachidic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cera Alba, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sunflower Seed Wax, Glyceryl Behenate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Stearyl Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Stearyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Paraffin, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Stearate, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Laureth-20, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Behenic Acid, Cera Microcristallina, Arachidic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, CI 77266
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePalmitic 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 AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParaffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinPhenoxyethanol 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Vp/Eicosene Copolymer yet.
Water. 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
