What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyisobutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Water, Synthetic Wax, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Sodium DNA, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Glycerin, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Paraffin, Microcrystalline Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Jojoba Esters
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Microcrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic Wax
