What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Alkane
SolventTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantVp/Eicosene Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Isododecane, Talc, Mica, C13-14 Alkane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Trihydroxystearin, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, CI 77220, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Synthetic Beeswax, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, CI 77163, Iron Oxides
C9-12 Alkane
SolventTapioca Starch
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Shorea Robusta Resin
TonicRhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentCannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C9-12 Alkane, Tapioca Starch, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Triacontanyl Pvp, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tribehenin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Zea Mays Starch, Shorea Robusta Resin, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Triolein, Glyceryl Dioleate, Maltose, Water, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteHelianthus 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 WaxPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
