What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Paraffin
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polybutene
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Polyester-11
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Synthetic Beeswax, Paraffin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polybutene, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycerin, Pvp, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Polyester-11, Cellulose, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Dextran, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 77266
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glyceryl Stearate, Cera Alba, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Starch, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Lecithin, Betula Alba Juice, Palmitic Acid, Steareth-2, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Xanthan Gum, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chlorphenesin, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cellulose, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, CI 77499, CI 77891
Reviews
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.
Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseCi 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 WaxGlyceryl 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 StearatePalmitic 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 AcidPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateStearic 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 AcidWater. 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
