What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Aroma
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Saccharin
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Aroma, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alumina, Saccharin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, CI 77163, CI 42090, CI 77400, Iron Oxides, CI 77742, Mica, CI 15850, CI 45410, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 15985
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTrimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Polybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Polybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Silica Silylate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Menthyl Lactate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, CI 77891, CI 77491, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Diisostearyl 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.
Hexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolHydrogenated 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 PolyisobutenePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
This silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
