Vaseline Lip Therapy Balm Cocoa & Shea Butter Korea Stick 4.8G

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides natural wax structure and emolliency for cosmetic texture and lip balm applications.

Why It's Used: The original cosmetic wax – provides natural, hard-texture structure for lip balms, sticks, and creams with emollient skin conditioning.

How It Works: Complex mixture of esters (wax esters), hydrocarbons (hentriacontane), and fatty acids provides semi-crystalline structure. melting point 62-65°c enables stable solid products. emulsifying capacity from free cerotic acid content.

Typically Found In: Lip balms,cosmetic sticks,creams,natural cosmetics

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – natural wax

Secondary Functions: Natural wax structure,occlusive conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 2%–30%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: No – honeybee-derived

Halal Status: Conditional – animal-derived; verify halal certification

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Beeswax's multi-component wax ester composition (myricyl palmitate as primary component) provides a unique crystalline structure that gives lip balms and cosmetic sticks their characteristic 'dragée' glide – different from synthetic wax esters that lack this crystalline lattice diversity.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Glycerin pulls water from the environment and deeper skin layers into the outer skin layer (epidermis), boosting moisture levels and keeping skin soft, smooth, and plump.

Why It's Used: It is used in virtually every moisturizer, serum, and cleanser because it is highly effective at hydrating skin, is well-tolerated by all skin types, and enhances the texture and spreadability of formulations.

How It Works: As a humectant, glycerin forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules, trapping them in the skin. it also reinforces the skin barrier by integrating into lipid structures between skin cells.

Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,cleansers,toners,sheet masks,sunscreens,body lotions,shampoos,conditioners

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Humectant

Secondary Functions: Skin barrier support,emollient,solvent

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–30% (typical: 3–10%)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – plant-derived (coconut, soy, palm) or synthetic

Halal Status: Yes – when plant-derived or synthetic; verify source with supplier

Source Notes: Derived from plant oils via hydrolysis or saponification; synthetic versions also available. palm-derived glycerin carries sustainability concerns.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low; non-irritating at all standard concentrations

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Extremely rare allergic reactions; generally safe for all skin types including sensitive and baby skin

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Widely recognized as safe. ewg hazard score: 1. no significant concerns for irritation, sensitization, or toxicity at typical concentrations (up to 50%).

Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,niacinamide,panthenol,urea,peptides,retinol,ahas/bhas

Avoid Combining With: No known incompatibilities at standard concentrations

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Glycerin is an endogenous skin component found naturally in the stratum corneum. aquaporin-3 channels in keratinocytes facilitate glycerin transport, making it integral to natural skin hydration pathways.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ewg skin deep,inci decoder

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides elegant dry-touch emolliency with excellent solubilisation for active ingredients.

Why It's Used: Premium emollient solvent — octyldodecanol's branched c20 structure provides a uniquely dry, elegant emollient character with exceptional compatibility for challenging actives.

How It Works: Branched c20 fatty alcohol provides dry, non-greasy emolliency. excellent solvent for fat-soluble vitamins, retinoids, uv filters, and flavour compounds. lower viscosity than longer-chain fatty alcohols for elegant application. very good spreading coefficient for uniform application.

Typically Found In: Premium skincare,sunscreens,vitamin delivery systems

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–20%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from c10 alcohols via guerbet reaction (plant-derived)

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Octyldodecanol is produced via the guerbet reaction — a base-catalysed self-condensation of two c10 alcohol molecules (decanol) yielding the branched c20 2-octyldodecanol. this reaction produces a highly branched structure that prevents crystallisation (liquid at room temperature), providing liquid-state emolliency with a completely different tactile profile than the waxy feel of linear c20 fatty alcohols.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides the highest level of skin occlusion and wound healing protection of any cosmetic ingredient.

Why It's Used: The most effective skin barrier protection ingredient available – fda-approved otc skin protectant with unparalleled occlusive moisturization and wound healing evidence.

How It Works: Semi-solid blend of long-chain hydrocarbons creates an extremely cohesive, impermeable occlusive film. physically prevents bacterial and irritant ingress while completely preventing tewl. does not absorb into skin. promotes moist wound healing environment by maintaining wound surface hydration.

Typically Found In: Intensive moisturizers,wound healing ointments,lip balms,baby products,eczema treatments

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – petroleum ointment base / gold-standard occlusive

Secondary Functions: Maximum occlusion,wound healing,otc skin protectant

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–100%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – petroleum-derived

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic (clinical evidence)

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Fda category i grase otc skin protectant. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Petrolatum's wound healing mechanism (moist wound healing) was first systematically studied by george winter (1962) and demonstrated that wounds heal 2× faster under occlusion than air-exposed. all subsequent wound dressings and occlusive skin treatments are based on this fundamental finding, with petrolatum remaining the most effective occlusive agent 60 years later.

Last Verified: Cosing database,fda otc skin protectant monograph,winter (1962) moist wound healing study

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides the universal solvent and vehicle for water-soluble actives and the continuous phase of all o/w emulsions.

Why It's Used: The most essential cosmetic ingredient — aqua (water) is listed first on virtually all water-containing cosmetic inci labels as the highest-concentration ingredient, serving as the foundation of the global cosmetics industry.

How It Works: Acts as solvent for all water-soluble ingredients (glycols, amino acids, water-soluble actives). forms the continuous external phase of o/w emulsions (lotions, creams, serums). provides aqueous environment for enzymatic and chemical reactions between actives. ph adjustment medium.

Typically Found In: Virtually all cosmetic products — the most universal cosmetic ingredient globally

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – water

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: Varies widely — up to 95% in some toners and serums

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – water (deionised/purified)

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Cosmetic-grade water is purified (deionised, distilled, or ro filtered) to prevent mineral content interference with formulation stability. european pharmacopoeial water (aqua purificata ph. eur.) is the quality standard for pharmaceutical and high-end cosmetic formulations.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – non-irritant

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Water's position as the first inci ingredient on most cosmetic labels reflects the regulatory requirement to list ingredients in descending concentration order — meaning water is the most abundant ingredient in the majority of cosmetic products. the fundamental role of water as the universal cosmetic solvent and vehicle makes it simultaneously the most important cosmetic ingredient and the one that requires the most sophisticated formulation chemistry to control — every emulsifier, thickener, preservative, and ph adjuster exists primarily to manage water's interaction with other ingredients in formulation.

Last Verified: Cosing database,eu cosmetics regulation 1223/2009 inci requirements,ph. eur. aqua purificata monograph

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12