What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Betaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethiconol, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Allantoin, Trehalose, Polysorbate 20, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylitol, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRice Ferment Lees
HumectantGlycosphingolipids
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Squalane, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Rice Ferment Lees, Glycosphingolipids, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beeswax, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Phytosteryl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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.
Beeswax's wax esters are derived primarily from palmitic and oleic acid (C16 and C18:1). Both of these fall within the C11-C24 feeding window.
The Malassezia yeast can potentially cleave these esters and release usable fatty acids, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. However, not everyone will react to this ingredient.
Learn more about BeeswaxButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 GlycerinWater. 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