What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Pullulan
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPCA Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Acrylates Copolymer
Cellulose
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77499, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Pullulan, Stearic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PCA Glyceryl Oleate, Zea Mays Starch, Acrylates Copolymer, Cellulose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, CI 77492, CI 77491, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, Xanthan Gum, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Paraffin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cera Microcristallina, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 AcidTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
