What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Polysilicone-11
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyphenylsilsesquioxane
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicStevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
CI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Synthetic Wax, Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, Punica Granatum Sterols, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Squalene, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Medicago Sativa Extract, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, CI 45410, CI 15850
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolybutene
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Parfum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77891, CI 45410, CI 15850, Iron Oxides, CI 19140, CI 77742, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl 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 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.
Azo dyes need to be thoroughly purified before use. This allows them to be more stable and longer-lasting.
This ingredient is common in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes. This color is described as brown/orangey red.
It has many secondary names such as Red 6 and Red 7. According to a manufacturer, Red 6 usually contains aluminum.
Learn more about CI 15850CI 45410 is a synthetic red-pigment and dye.
It often goes by both Red 28 or Red 27; manufacturers label both ingredients as CI 45410.
This dye is commonly found in makeup because it imparts a vivid color. Some types of this dye change color based on pH level and interaction with moisture:
Your skin has a natural pH of around 4.5 - 5.5.
According to the FDA, CI 45410 is not permitted for use in eye products.
Red 27 is a flourescein dye and commonly used as a fluorescent tracer in medicine.
Learn more about CI 45410Hydrogenated 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 PolyisobuteneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumThis ingredient is also known as stevia.
