What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cera Alba
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aroma
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Synthetic Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aroma, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tribehenin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Propylene Carbonate, Glycine Soja Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamal
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolybutene
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientParfum
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Microcristallina, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum, Mica, BHT, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, CI 15850, CI 45410, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis 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 ButterOctyldodecanol 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.
This ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateTocopherol 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
