What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBehenyl Behenate
EmollientEthylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingWater, CI 77499, Behenyl Behenate, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Pvp, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Myristic Acid, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Iris Florentina Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Paraffin, Pentylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, CI 77499, Palmitic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Synthetic Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, CI 77491, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, CI 77492, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77007, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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.
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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic 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
