What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolybutene
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Tribehenin
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Rebaudioside A
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningAroma
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Wax, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Tribehenin, Trihydroxystearin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Rebaudioside A, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Dehydroacetic Acid, Water, Aroma
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyamide-8
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Aroma
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyamide-8, Tribehenin, Squalane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Aroma, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexyldecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Bisabolol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Stearic Acid, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaCaprylic/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 TriglycerideDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobutenePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateSodium 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 TocopherolTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin
