What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Pullulan
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Propanediol, Pullulan, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Cellulose, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Polyacrylate-21
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Polybutene
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanediol
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cera Alba, Polyacrylate-21, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Polybutene, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Stearyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, 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.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters is an oil.
Oryza 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 AcidStearic 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
