Sephora Collection Love The Lift Curling + Volumizing Mascara Versus Sephora Collection Big By Definition
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolybutene
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolyimide-1
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhus Succedanea Fruit Cera
EmollientCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, CI 77499, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polybutene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polyimide-1, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Cera, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPolybutene
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRhus Succedanea Fruit Cera
EmollientShorea Robusta Resin
TonicHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, CI 77499, Synthetic Wax, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Polybutene, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Cera, Shorea Robusta Resin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Yeast Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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.
Glyceryl 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 StearateHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxOryza Sativa Bran Wax is wax from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It has moisturizing properties due to its polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids content.
This ingredient is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
Palmitic 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 AcidPolybutene is used to help control the viscosity of a product. This just means it helps adjusts the texture.
It is a polymer and does not get absorbed into the skin due to its large size.
Studies found this ingredient did not irritate skin in concentrations below 15%.
Learn more about PolybuteneThis ingredient is also known as Japan wax. It is made from the fruit pulp of the Japanese wax tree.
In cosmetics, this ingredient acts like a classic wax; it thickens and stabilizes formulas, helps bind powders, and leaves an emollient film to help reduce moisture loss.
It is important to note this ingredient comes from a tree that is part of the Toxicodendron species that are well-known for having urushiol, an allergen also found in poison ivy.
Though this ingredient comes from the fruit instead of sap (the sap contains the substance that causes itchy rashes), there is a very small chance that sensitive people could react.
Learn more about Rhus Succedanea Fruit CeraStearic 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 AcidSynthetic beeswax is created to be identical in structure to beeswax. It possesses the same occlusive and emulsion properties.
A blend of fatty acid esters, fatty acids, and alcohols are used to create synthetic beeswax. Whether or not this ingredient is vegan depends on the source. Sometimes, lanolin is used for its creation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic BeeswaxWe 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum