What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin
Abrasive
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningLithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLimonium Gerberi Extract
Skin ProtectingRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Simethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Mica, Kaolin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Paraffin, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Polyethylene, Glycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, CI 77120, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Limonium Gerberi Extract, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Methicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Microcrystalline Wax, Water, Silica, Alumina, Simethicone, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantUltramarines
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cera Microcristallina, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Water, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 77007, Ultramarines, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
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 ingredientâs 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 TriglycerideHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
This is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
