Skin science article
Kosas LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm Versus Paula's Choice Boost Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster
Kosas LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm Versus Paula's Choice Boost Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Ricinus Communis Seed Oil and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride to strengthen the lip barrier and hydra
Kosas LipFuel Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm Versus Paula's Choice Boost Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster
This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Ricinus Communis Seed Oil and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.
This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate lips.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Mica
Silica
Octyldodecanol
Lanolin Oil
Jojoba Esters
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Beeswax
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Caprylyl Glycol
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Glucomannan
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Persea Gratissima Oil
Polyglycerin-3
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Trihydroxystearin
Limonene
CI 77891
CI 15850
CI 77491
CI 77492
CI 77499
CI 73360
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Mica, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Lanolin Oil, Jojoba Esters, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucomannan, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trihydroxystearin, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 73360
Diisostearyl Malate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Dipentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate/Polyhydroxystearate
Polyamide-8
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Triisostearin
Squalane
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Water
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Tribehenin
Palmitic Acid
Hydroxystearic Acid
Sorbitan Isostearate
Glycine Soja Oil
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Lactic Acid
Sucrose Cocoate
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Sorbic Acid
Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate/Polyhydroxystearate, Polyamide-8, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triisostearin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Water, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Tocopherol, Tribehenin, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trihydroxystearin, Glycine Soja Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glucomannan, Sorbic Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Glucomannan is a fiber created from the Konjac plant. It is an emulsifier and thickener.
The high polysaccharide content makes it great at adjusting the texture of products. (Kind of like starch).
Polysaccharides also help our skin stay hydrated.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Like other plant butters, Cacao seed butter is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture in, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Cacao seed butter contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules by stabilizing them. Unstable free-radicals may cause damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter can be bad for acne prone skin.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Trihydroxystearin is what you get when you fully hydrogenate castor oil into a waxy, fine powder.
It's mostly a behind-the-scenes texture enhancer that's especially good at "thixotropic" thing where the product stays thick but applies nicely.
Because of its structure, it also acts as a mild skin conditioning emollient that helps soften skin while preventing moisture loss.
Safety studies show it to be safe and non-irritation in clinical tests. It's typically used in concentrations up to 5%.
Since its an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can potentially feed on. This makes it not fungal-acne safe.