What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStyrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientPolybutene
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Steareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Dibehenate
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTribehenin
EmollientEthylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
AbrasiveHydrogenated Palm Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantWater, Paraffin, CI 77499, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Beeswax, Synthetic Beeswax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polybutene, Cetyl Alcohol, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Steareth-20, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Steareth-2, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tribehenin, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Cera Alba
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEthylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
AbrasiveHydrogenated Palm Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningRayon
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveLaureth-21
CleansingSoluble Collagen
HumectantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTrisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningAtelocollagen
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Steareth-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Rayon, Panthenol, Silica, Laureth-21, Soluble Collagen, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trisodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Atelocollagen, BHT, Hexylene Glycol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77007
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.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCi 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.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer yet.
Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer isn't fungal acne safe.
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil is the "hardened version" of jojoba oil; jojoba oil is technically not an oil at all but a liquid wax that has a structure similar to your skin's own sebum.
Adding hydrogen turns this liquid wax into a colorless, odorless, hard wax with a melting point of around 70°C. This is why you'll see it in "stick formulations" like lipstick, eyeliner, and lip balm.
It also acts as a cushiony emollient and skin conditioning agent that leaves skin soft and smooth.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and that it isn't am irritant or sensitizer.
Typical use levels range from 1% up to 25-31% in stick products.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Jojoba OilHydrogenated Palm Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParaffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphatePotassium 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 SorbateSodium 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 DehydroacetateSteareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol. The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.
Due to the low degree of ethoxylation, the molecule stays mostly oil-loving. That's why you'll often see it paired with water-loving steareth-20 or steareth-21 to create elegant emulsions.
In testing, this ingredient was nontoxic in acute oral studies and not a skin irritant or sensitizer.
You might hear concerns about 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation; this is well-known in the industry and is controlled through purification steps before the ingredient is blended into finished products.
Learn more about Steareth-2Water. 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