What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAroma
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract
EmollientMenthol
Masking
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Water, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Aroma, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract, Menthol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Tocopherol, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingMethyl Nicotinate
SoothingCapsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate
EmollientPEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-25
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dextrin Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Methyl Nicotinate, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Water, Propylene Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Sucrose Cocoate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Octyldodeceth-25, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Capsicum Frutescens is a type of wild chili pepper. Some varieties of this pepper include Tabasco pepper, Malagueta pepper, and Piri Piri pepper.
Though this ingredient is normally associated with food, it has antidandruff, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
Studies show low concentrations of this ingredient did not cause skin irritation:
Raw peppers may have a rubefacient effect, or mild local skin irritation resulting in vasodilation. Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels. Due to this, peppers can provide a lip plumping effect. However, it is most likely not going to have a rubefacient effect, or cause skin irritation, in your cosmetics.
The antioxidant activity comes from its flavonoid, polyphenol, and sterol content.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Capsicum Frutescens Fruit ExtractCetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid.
It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneThis synthetic, signal peptide has unique skin conditioning properties in that is a matrikine-mimetic compound.
First of all, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 is a signal peptide; signal peptides tell the body to create more collagen.
What is a matrikine-mimetic compound?
This peptide has the ability to mimic matrikines in skin. Our skin created matrikines by breaking down matrix proteins into peptides.
Matrikines play a role in:
Though further research is needed, this ingredient seems pretty promising. In one study, women over the age of 40 with visible photoaging used a vitamin C serum with this ingredient for 56 days (15% ascorbid acid, 5 ppm palmitoyl tripeptide‐38). The results found improvement in skin roughness and skin tone.
This peptide is also part of the famous Matrixyl synthe’6, a blend of ingredients that also includes glycerin, water, and hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38Phenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Portulaca Pilosa Extract yet.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateSucrose cocoate is a mild multitasking ingredient made by esterifying sugar with the fatty acids of coconut oil.
It functions as a surfactant, emulsifier, and skin-conditioning ingredient all in one.
Typical use concentrations range from:
This ingredient is well-tolerated across skin types and has been classified safe for use in cosmetic products by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. It's even considered gentle enough for use in baby care products like shampoos and lotions.
Fungal acne note: Sucrose cocoate is a fatty acid ester derived from coconut oil that contains fatty acids in the C12-18 range. This is the range that Malassezia can metabolize, meaning this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sucrose CocoateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
