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 ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Pullulan
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
PCA Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Water
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Plumeria Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Pullulan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, PCA Glyceryl Oleate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Zingiber Officinale Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Plumeria Alba Flower Extract, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCaprylyl 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 GlycolCellulose 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.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (aka candelilla wax) is a vegan stand-in for beeswax. It is a plant-derived wax that functions as an astringent, emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and skin conditioner.
On skin, it forms a protective barrier that helps lock in moisture while it enhances product stability, prevents separation, and helps color last longer in makeup.
This ingredient is generally safe for use in cosmetics with one nuance: some grades of candelilla wax can naturally contain benzyl alcohol at concentrations high enough to require declaration under EU labeling rules. This isn't a concern for most people but relevant for those with fragrance sensitivities.
Candelilla wax contains fatty acids (mainly C31) and wax esters that can be used by the Malassezia yeast, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might see Euphorbia Cerifera "Wax" instead of "cera". This is because some brands, databases, or labels use it interchangeably; they're the same ingredient.
Learn more about Euphorbia Cerifera CeraHelianthus 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 WaxHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters is an oil.
Pullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSodium Dehydroacetate is a synthetic preservative and sodium salt form of dehydroacetic acid. It stops bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing in your products at low concentrations.
Clinical testing found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing. It's also not significantly absorbed through skin.
There are a very small number of reported cases of contact dermatitis in cases linked to wound-care creams used over compromised skin (rather than skincare).
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-risk preservative just doing its job.
Typical concentrations run up to 0.6%, which is also the maximum amount permitted under both EU CosIng regulations and US FDA guidelines.
Learn more about Sodium DehydroacetateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideStearic 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
