What's In My Jar
Castle Forbes Cedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave Balm
Castle Forbes

Castle Forbes Cedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave Balm

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin + 2 more
Works
What the product description says
“Beautifully absorbed by the skin, the balm leaves the skin moisturized without any leftover excess oil.”
Source: SmallFlower

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hydrolyzed wheat protein.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

CyclopentasiloxaneKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~2.8–4.2%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.1–3.1%
Hydrolyzed wheat proteinKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to gluten~0.15–0.5%
Aloe barbadensis extract· HumectantEffect: LowTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin~3.7–5.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Hamamelis virginiana extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 7 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Hamamelis virginiana extractA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~5.9–8.8%est.
MethylchloroisothiazolinoneA preservative. Is a frequent allergen in cosmeticsHigh~0.00075–0.0015%est.
MethylisothiazolinoneA preservative. Is a frequent allergenHigh~0.00075–0.0015%est.
Aloe barbadensis extractTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skinMedium~3.7–5.5%est.
Peg/ppg-20/15 dimethiconeHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.4–2.2%est.
Juniperus virginiana oilCedarwood oil. Used as a fragrance. Can be irritatingMedium~0.15–0.7%est.
Hydrolyzed wheat proteinCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to glutenMedium~0.15–0.5%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Hamamelis virginiana extract~5.9–8.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana extract
Aloe barbadensis extract~3.7–5.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

More about Aloe barbadensis extract
Cyclopentasiloxane~2.8–4.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

More about Cyclopentasiloxane
Glycerin~2.1–3.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Peg/ppg-20/15 dimethicone~1.4–2.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Peg/ppg-20/15 dimethicone
Tromethamine~1–1.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps adjust pH in products

More about Tromethamine
Carbomer~0.8–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations

More about Carbomer
Juniperus virginiana oil~0.15–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Cedarwood oil. Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Juniperus virginiana oil
Hydrolyzed wheat protein~0.15–0.5%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Avoid if sensitive to gluten

More about Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Methylchloroisothiazolinone~0.00075–0.0015%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A preservative. Is a frequent allergen in cosmetics

More about Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone~0.00075–0.0015%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A preservative. Is a frequent allergen

More about Methylisothiazolinone
Ingredient list view

Water, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Aloe barbadensis extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Peg/ppg-20/15 dimethicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Juniperus virginiana oil, Hydrolyzed wheat protein, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

SmallFlower5 fl oz
$60.00 Out of stock
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Amazon US
Price unavailable Out of stock
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Castle ForbesCedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave BalmYOUR PRODUCTinnisfreeBija Cica Balm EXTatchaIndigo Soothing Body ButterJack BlackBody Care Cool Moisture Body Lotion
Match—42%41%37%
Price—$37.20$54.00$56.00
Shared key ingredients—2 of 32 of 32 of 3
Key difference—MadecassosideColloidal OatmealBiosaccharide Gum-1
Irritancy High Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol—— Contains drying alcohol —
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Product summary

"Castle Forbes - Cedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave Balm" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Humectants (glycerin 2.10% - 3.10%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails for 122.13CA$ in Canada, for 68.50A$ in Australia and for 60.00$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Topical Preparations with 10% Hamamelis Distillate in a UV Erythema Testkarger.com
  2. 2
    Anti-inflammatory activity of hamamelis distillate applied topically to the skin link.springer.com
  3. 3
    ASSESSMENT REPORT ON HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., CORTEX HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., FOLIUM HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA L., FOLIUM ET CORTEX AUT RAMUNCULUS DESTILLATUM ema.europa.eu
  4. 4
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. 5
    Safety Assessment of Tromethamine as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  6. 6
    Wheat in skin caremdedge.com
Castle Forbes Cedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave Balm
Castle ForbesCedarwood Sandalwood Aftershave Balm
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Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.