What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Paraffin
Perfuming
Synthetic 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
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 ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyurethane-9
Propanediol
Solvent
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Kaolin
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Rayon
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Pisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventArginine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, CI 77499, Jojoba Esters, Polyurethane-9, Propanediol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Cetearyl Olivate, Kaolin, Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Charcoal Powder, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pentylene Glycol, Rayon, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Glycerin, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Phenylpropanol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Methylpropanediol, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Silica, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Copernicia 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 WaxGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
