What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPaeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Jojoba Esters, Cera Alba, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Parfum, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, CI 77220, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Trihydroxystearin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan
Polybutene
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Isostearyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientTriisostearyl Citrate
EmollientTrimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tribehenin
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Algae Extract
EmollientLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyethylene, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Octyldodecanol, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Triisostearyl Citrate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Mentha Piperita Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tribehenin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, CI 15850, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateOctyldodecanol 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
