What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyethylene, Isononyl Isononanoate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Microcrystalline Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tin Oxide
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Squalane
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTin Oxide
Abrasive
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Polymethyl Methacrylate, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Mica, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Squalane, Stearalkonium Hectorite, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Methicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tin Oxide, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeMica 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 MicaMicrocrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
This ingredient is also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylateSorbitan Sesquiisostearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Tin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinEuphorbia Cerifera Wax (aka candelilla wax) is a vegan stand-in for beeswax. It is a plant-derived wax that functions as an astringent, emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and skin conditioner.
On skin, it forms a protective barrier that helps lock in moisture while it enhances product stability, prevents separation, and helps color last longer in makeup.
This ingredient is generally safe for use in cosmetics with one nuance: some grades of candelilla wax can naturally contain benzyl alcohol at concentrations high enough to require declaration under EU labeling rules. This isn't a concern for most people but relevant for those with fragrance sensitivities.
Candelilla wax contains fatty acids (mainly C31) and wax esters that can be used by the Malassezia yeast, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might see Euphorbia Cerifera "Cera" instead of "wax". This is because some brands, databases, or labels use it interchangeably; they're the same ingredient.
Learn more about Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
