What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Behenyl Behenate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Avium Seed Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Vanillin
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Behenyl Behenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Tocopherol, Ethyl Vanillin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Tin Oxide, Propyl Gallate, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 45380
Petrolatum
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Honey Extract
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPetrolatum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Microcrystalline Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Honey Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Niacinamide, Riboflavin
Reviews
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 ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxHydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Parfum 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 ParfumPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is a plant-derived emulsifier and pigment-dispersing agent with a non-sticky skin feel.
It helps products glide on smoothly and prevents oil and water from separating in a formula, making it suitable for sunscreen and makeup formulations.
The EU inventory of cosmetics has no use restrictions on this ingredient and it is considered well-tolerated.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is derived from isostearic acid.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 TriisostearateTocopherol 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
