What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveQuaternium-18 Bentonite
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Nylon-6
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSchizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantMyristoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningDextran
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCaproic Acid
CleansingIsododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ozokerite, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Quaternium-18 Bentonite, CI 77499, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Nylon-6, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract, Propylene Glycol, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dextran, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-1, Caproic Acid
Isododecane
EmollientCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPropylene Carbonate
SolventTrimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Cera Microcristallina, Water, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Talc, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Glycol, Silica, Sorbitan Isostearate, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, 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 SilicaJojoba 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 OilTocopherol 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.
Learn more about TocopherolThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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