Vivienne Sabo Paris Cabaret Première Classic Waterproof Mascara Versus Vivienne Sabo Paris Polynèsie Francaise Water-Resistant Mascara
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Polybutene
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate
Zinc Borosilicate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Alumina
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Iron Oxides
Ultramarines
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Palmitic Acid, Polybutene, Glyceryl Stearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Zinc Borosilicate, Maltodextrin, Alumina, Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines, Titanium Dioxide, CI 19140, Blue 1 Lake, CI 75470
Water
Skin ConditioningLanolin
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPPG-2-Deceth-30
EmulsifyingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glyceryl 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 StearateMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylparaben is a preservative and one of the most widely used members of the paraben family (it's been used in cosmetics for over a century now).
It works by disrupting microbial cell membranes and enzymes, and is a broad-spectrum protector that works exceptionally well against molds, yeasts, and gram-positive bacteria.
You'll likely see it paired with methylparaben to cover the full range (including gram-negative bacteria).
This ingredient is effective at low concentrations (~0.2-0.5%) and stable across a wide pH range (4.5-7.5 pH). It's effectiveness drops off above pH 8 and it can lose potency when combined with non-ionic surfactants like polysorbate 80 due to micellization.
The regulatory bodies have concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics. The EU has capped it at 0.14% and combined parabens are not to exceed 0.8%.
While parabens do cross the stratum corneum, only about 1% remains for absorption into the body. This is because most of it is metabolized within living skin.
Learn more about PropylparabenStearic 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
