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
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder
Abrasive
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantDicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ethyl Vanillin
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Mica, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Triacontanyl Pvp, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silica Silylate, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ethyl Vanillin
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 BenzoateMica 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 MicaOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Silica, 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 SilicaSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic Wax
